Latest news with #Molotovcocktails
Sky News
2 days ago
- General
- Sky News
Mohamed Soliman: Colorado attack suspect's wife and children detained by immigration officials
The family of the man accused of throwing petrol bombs at a pro-Israel group in Colorado have been taking into custody. Immigration officers detained Mohamed Soliman's relatives, believed to be his wife and five children. Soliman, an Egyptian national, moved to the US three years ago and lived in Colorado Springs but was there illegally after his visa and work authorisation expired. He reportedly has two teenage children and three younger children. "We are investigating to what extent his family knew about this heinous attack, if they had knowledge of it, or if they provided support to it," said homeland security secretary Kristi Noem on X. Soliman, 45, is being held after Molotov cocktails were thrown at a group doing a walk for Israeli hostages in Boulder on Sunday. The attacker allegedly yelled "Free Palestine" and had a total of 18 petrol bombs - but police said he "got scared" and only tossed a couple. Soliman also had a makeshift flamethrower in the form of gas in a backpack sprayer, according to a FBI statement, but told investigators he did not use it. Twelve people were injured, authorities said. The victims were aged between 52 and 88 and three of them were still being treated in hospital on Tuesday. Soliman was allegedly dressed as a gardener to get as close as he could to the small group. Authorities said he told them he had no regrets. He has been charged with a hate crime and 16 counts of attempted murder in federal and state cases. Court papers said he planned the attack for a year and told authorities that no one, including his family, was aware of the plot. An FBI statement said Soliman left an iPhone hidden in a drawer at his home with messages for his family but that his wife handed it to police. The family are said to be cooperating with investigators. Soliman admitted taking gun training to try to get a permit but was denied as he wasn't a US citizen, according to police and the FBI. Barred from buying a firearm, he allegedly used YouTube to learn how to make petrol bombs. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Boulder attack was "aimed against peaceful people who wished to express their solidarity with the hostages held by Hamas, simply because they were Jews". The incident follows the arrest of a Chicago-born man in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington DC last month. Tensions are simmering in the US over Israel's war in Gaza.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Pro-Palestine Boulder terrorist's OTHER political motive revealed in paperwork found in his messy car
The terror suspect who attacked a pro-Israel rally had a secret political agenda, cops have revealed. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, injured 12 people when he threw two Molotov cocktails into a crowd of demonstrators that he branded a 'Zionist group'. He planned to kill the crowd - who were holding their weekly protest for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza - but 'got scared and had never hurt anyone before'. Investigators seized Soliman's silver 2015 Toyota Prius and found a slew of evidence supporting the federal hate crime charges that could result in a life sentence. Officials found a red gas container, rags documents with the words ' Israel,' 'Palestine,' and 'USAID' in his vehicle, the affidavit states. Sixteen Molotov cocktails and a backpack weed sprayer containing gasoline that investigators say he intended to use as a makeshift flamethrower were also found. Soliman, an Egyptian national who was living in the US illegally, was not employed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), an official said. The paperwork in his vehicle was likely a reference to Donald Trump 's executive order that halted new foreign aid assistance unless it fits with US strategic goals. Soliman injured 12 people when he threw two Molotov cocktails into a crowd of demonstrators, whom he described as a 'Zionist group'. He is pictured Sunday as police took him into custody Disguised as a gardener, Soliman threw fire bombs and sprayed burning gasoline at protesters from the pro-Israel group Run for Their Lives on Sunday afternoon. Twelve people were hurt in the attack in the city of Boulder, two of them seriously. Most of those taken to the hospital have now been discharged. Soliman threw 'Molotov cocktails at a group of men and women, some of them in their late 80s, burning them as they peacefully walked on a Sunday to draw attention to Israeli hostages held in Gaza,' Acting US Attorney J. Bishop Grewell for the District of Colorado said. The two incendiary devices he did throw into the group of about 20 people were enough to wound more than half of them, and authorities said he expressed no regrets about the attack. 'When he was interviewed about the attack, he said he wanted them all to die. He had no regrets, and he would go back and do it again.' Soliman planned the Boulder attack for more than a year and specifically targeted the protesters because they were what he described as a 'Zionist group,' authorities said in court papers charging him with a federal hate crime. Federal and state prosecutors filed separate criminal cases against Soliman, charging him with a hate crime and attempted murder, respectively. He faces additional state charges related to the incendiary devices, and more charges are possible in federal court, where the Justice Department will seek a grand jury indictment. Soliman is being held on a $10 million, cash-only bond, prosecutors said. His next court hearing is set for Thursday. Soliman told the police he was driven by a desire 'to kill all Zionist people', according to a FBI affidavit. Soliman referencing the movement to establish and protect a Jewish state in Israel. Video from the scene captured by an eyewitness shows people pouring water on a woman lying on the ground who allegedly had caught fire during the attack. Witnesses said that after Soliman threw the two incendiary devices, apparently catching himself on fire as he threw the second, he took off his shirt and what appeared to be a bulletproof vest before police arrived. The man dropped to the ground and was arrested without any apparent resistance. The Molotov cocktails were made up of glass wine carafe bottles or jars with clear liquid and red rags hanging out of the them, the FBI said. 'He stated that he had been planning the attack for a year and was waiting until after his daughter graduated to conduct the attack,' the affidavit says. He had gas in a backpack sprayer but told investigators he didn´t spray it on anyone but himself 'because he had planned on dying.' The terrorist admitted to the attack and told investigators he had previously tried to buy a gun, but had been thwarted because he was not a US citizen. Soliman had been living in the US illegally after entering the country in August 2022 on a B2 visa that expired in February 2023, Homeland Security officials confirmed. Soliman, who was born in Egypt, moved three years ago to Colorado Springs, where he lived with his wife and five kids, according to state court documents. He previously spent 17 years living in Kuwait. Officials said Soliman filed for asylum in September 2022 and was granted a work authorization in March 2023, which expired three months ago. Authorities said they believe Soliman acted alone. He was also injured and taken to a hospital. Authorities did not elaborate on the nature of his injuries, but a booking photo showed him with a large bandage over one ear. Soliman's attorney, public defender Kathryn Herold, declined to comment after his court hearing Monday. The burst of violence at the popular Pearl Street pedestrian mall in downtown Boulder unfolded against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war, which continues to inflame global tensions and has contributed to a spike in anti-Semitic violence in the United States. The attack happened on the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot and barely a week after a man who also yelled 'Free Palestine' was charged with fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staffers outside a Jewish museum in Washington. President Trump vowed revenge and lashed out at his predecessor, Joe Biden, over the Boulder tragedy. 'Yesterday's horrific attack in Boulder, Colorado, WILL NOT BE TOLERATED in the United States of America,' he wrote Monday in a fiery post on his Truth Social network, describing it as a 'terrible tragedy.' He also blamed 'Biden's ridiculous Open Border Policy' for allowing Soliman into the country. 'This is yet another example of why we must keep our Borders SECURE, and deport Illegal, Anti-American Radicals from our Homeland,' he wrote. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also vowed to hunt down people who wreak havoc, posting on social media: 'All terrorists, their family members, and terrorist sympathizers here on a visa should know that under the Trump Administration we will find you, revoke your visa, and deport you.
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- General
- Al Arabiya
Colorado fire-bomb suspect planned attack for a year, prosecutors say
An Egyptian national charged with tossing gasoline bombs at a pro-Israeli rally in Boulder, Colorado, injuring a dozen people, planned his attack for a year and used Molotov cocktails instead of a gun because his noncitizen status blocked him from buying firearms, prosecutors said on Monday. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, told investigators that he wanted to 'kill all Zionist people' but had delayed committing the attack until after his daughter had graduated from high school, according to state and federal court documents charging him with attempted murder, assault and a federal hate crime. Police and FBI affidavits quoted the suspect as saying he took firearms training to obtain a concealed-carry permit but ended up using Molotov cocktails because of his immigration status. Soliman told investigators that he had learned how to make the fire bombs from YouTube. Federal authorities said Soliman was in the country illegally, having overstayed a tourist visa and an expired work permit. Trump administration officials immediately seized on Sunday's violence as an example of why they are cracking down on illegal immigration. A police affidavit filed in support of Soliman's arrest warrant said he was born in Egypt, lived in Kuwait for 17 years and moved three years ago to Colorado Springs, about 100 miles (161 km) south of Boulder, where he lived with his wife and five children. 'In light of yesterday's horrific attack, all terrorists, their family members, and terrorist sympathizers here on a visa should know that under the Trump administration we will find you, revoke your visa, and deport you,' US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X. Federal and local authorities at an afternoon news conference in Boulder said Soliman had done nothing to draw law enforcement attention before Sunday's incident. He was believed to have acted alone, they said. According to the Boulder police affidavit, Soliman had planned for a year to carry out the attack, which unfolded on the Pearl Street Mall, a popular pedestrian shopping district near the University of Colorado. The affidavit said the suspect 'threw two lit Molotov cocktails at individuals participating in the pro-Israel gathering,' yelling, 'Free Palestine' as they ignited in the crowd. The victims, many of them elderly, were taking part in an event organized by Run for Their Lives, an organization devoted to drawing attention to the hostages seized in the aftermath of Hamas' 2023 attack on Israel. Sixteen Molotov cocktails were left The attack was the latest act of violence aimed at Jewish Americans linked to outrage over Israel's escalating military offensive in Gaza. It followed the fatal shooting of two Israel Embassy aides that took place outside Washington's Capital Jewish Museum last month. US Attorney General Pam Bondi described the fire-bombing as an 'antisemitic terror attack.' Authorities said they found 16 gasoline-filled Molotov cocktails near where the suspect was detained. The police also found a gasoline canister in his car parked nearby and a weed sprayer filled with gasoline at the scene. The federal affidavit references a video posted on social media during the attack showing Soliman 'shirtless, pacing back and forth while holding what appear to be Molotov cocktails.' During a brief court appearance on Monday, Soliman appeared via a video feed from the Boulder County Jail, wearing an orange jumpsuit. He answered 'yes' to some procedural questions from the judge but otherwise did not speak. Soliman's attorney, public defender Kathryn Herold, said during the hearing that she would reserve any arguments regarding his bond conditions until a future date. He was initially detained in lieu of $10 million cash bail. The suspect faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if found guilty on the federal hate crime charge because he was also charged with attempted-murder in state court. The multiple attempted-murder counts are punishable by up to 384 years in prison, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said. Department of Homeland Security officials said Soliman had entered the United States in August 2022 on a tourist visa, filed for asylum the following month, and remained in the country after his visa expired in February 2023. 'There are millions of individuals like this that we are attempting to locate from the past administration that weren't properly screened that were allowed in,' Todd Lyons, acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said during a press conference in Boston. In a social media post, US President Donald Trump called Sunday's attack 'yet another example of why we must keep our Borders SECURE, and deport Illegal, Anti-American Radicals from our Homeland.' Under former President Joe Biden, ICE prioritized arrests of serious criminals and called for officers to consider humanitarian factors when detaining migrants. Authorities had identified eight victims by late Sunday - four women and four men, 52 to 88 years of age. Two victims remained hospitalized on Monday. In addition, four more victims who were less seriously injured came forward on Monday. Rabbi Yisroel Wilhelm, the Chabad director at the University of Colorado, Boulder, told CBS Colorado that the 88-year-old victim was a Holocaust refugee who fled Europe. Sunday's attack was not the first high-profile incident of mass violence in Boulder, a university town that attracts many young professionals and outdoor enthusiasts. In 2021, a gunman fatally shot 10 people, including an off-duty police officer, in a local supermarket.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Colorado firebomb suspect planned attack for a year, prosecutors say as charges laid
An Egyptian national charged with tossing petrol bombs at a pro-Israeli rally in Boulder , Colorado, injuring a dozen people, planned his attack for a year and used Molotov cocktails instead of a gun because his non-citizen status blocked him from buying firearms, prosecutors said on Monday. Advertisement Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, told investigators that he wanted to 'kill all Zionist people' but had delayed committing the attack until after his daughter had graduated from high school, according to state and federal court documents charging him with attempted murder, assault and a federal hate crime. Police and FBI affidavits quoted the suspect as saying he took firearms training to obtain a concealed-carry permit but ended up using Molotov cocktails because of his immigration status. Soliman told investigators that he had learned how to make the fire bombs from YouTube. Federal authorities said Soliman was in the country illegally, having overstayed a tourist visa and an expired work permit. Trump administration officials immediately seized on Sunday's violence as an example of why they are cracking down on illegal immigration. Mohamed Sabry Soliman in a jail booking photograph after his arrest. Photo: Boulder Police Department via Reuters A police affidavit filed in support of Soliman's arrest warrant said he was born in Egypt, lived in Kuwait for 17 years and moved three years ago to Colorado Springs, about 161km (100 miles) south of Boulder, where he lived with his wife and five children.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Planned for a year: Colorado firebomb suspect wanted to ‘kill all Zionists,' say prosecutors
BOULDER, June 3 — An Egyptian national charged with tossing gasoline bombs at a pro-Israeli rally in Boulder, Colorado, injuring a dozen people, planned his attack for a year and used Molotov cocktails instead of a gun because his noncitizen status blocked him from buying firearms, prosecutors said on Monday. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, told investigators that he wanted to 'kill all Zionist people' but had delayed committing the attack until after his daughter had graduated from high school, according to state and federal court documents charging him with attempted murder, assault and a federal hate crime. Police and FBI affidavits quoted the suspect as saying he took firearms training to obtain a concealed-carry permit but ended up using Molotov cocktails because of his immigration status. Soliman told investigators that he had learned how to make the fire bombs from YouTube. Federal authorities said Soliman was in the country illegally, having overstayed a tourist visa and an expired work permit. Trump administration officials immediately seized on Sunday's violence as an example of why they are cracking down on illegal immigration. A police affidavit filed in support of Soliman's arrest warrant said he was born in Egypt, lived in Kuwait for 17 years and moved three years ago to Colorado Springs, about 161km south of Boulder, where he lived with his wife and five children. 'In light of yesterday's horrific attack, all terrorists, their family members, and terrorist sympathisers here on a visa should know that under the Trump administration we will find you, revoke your visa, and deport you,' US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X. Federal and local authorities at an afternoon news conference in Boulder said Soliman had done nothing to draw law enforcement attention before Sunday's incident. He was believed to have acted alone, they said. According to the Boulder police affidavit, Soliman had planned for a year to carry out the attack, which unfolded on the Pearl Street Mall, a popular pedestrian shopping district near the University of Colorado. The affidavit said the suspect 'threw two lit Molotov cocktails at individuals participating in the pro-Israel gathering,' yelling, 'Free Palestine' as they ignited in the crowd. The victims, many of them elderly, were taking part in an event organised by Run for Their Lives, an organization devoted to drawing attention to the hostages seized in the aftermath of Hamas' 2023 attack on Israel. Sixteen Molotov cocktails were left The attack was the latest act of violence aimed at Jewish Americans linked to outrage over Israel's escalating military offensive in Gaza. It followed the fatal shooting of two Israel Embassy aides that took place outside Washington's Capital Jewish Museum last month. US Attorney General Pam Bondi described the fire-bombing as an 'antisemitic terror attack.' Authorities said they found 16 gasoline-filled Molotov cocktails near where the suspect was detained. The police also found a gasoline canister in his car parked nearby and a weed sprayer filled with gasoline at the scene. The federal affidavit references a video posted on social media during the attack showing Soliman 'shirtless, pacing back and forth while holding what appear to be Molotov cocktails.' During a brief court appearance on Monday, Soliman appeared via a video feed from the Boulder County Jail, wearing an orange jumpsuit. He answered 'yes' to some procedural questions from the judge but otherwise did not speak. Soliman's attorney, public defender Kathryn Herold, said during the hearing that she would reserve any arguments regarding his bond conditions until a future date. He was initially detained in lieu of US$10 million (RM42.4 million) cash bail. The suspect faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if found guilty on the federal hate crime charge because he was also charged with attempted-murder in state court. The multiple attempted-murder counts are punishable by up to 384 years in prison, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said. Department of Homeland Security officials said Soliman had entered the United States in August 2022 on a tourist visa, filed for asylum the following month, and remained in the country after his visa expired in February 2023. 'There are millions of individuals like this that we are attempting to locate from the past administration that weren't properly screened that were allowed in,' Todd Lyons, acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said during a press conference in Boston. In a social media post, US President Donald Trump called Sunday's attack 'yet another example of why we must keep our Borders SECURE, and deport Illegal, Anti-American Radicals from our Homeland.' Under former President Joe Biden, ICE prioritised arrests of serious criminals and called for officers to consider humanitarian factors when detaining migrants. Authorities had identified eight victims by late Sunday — four women and four men, 52 to 88 years of age. Two victims remained hospitalised on Monday. In addition, four more victims who were less seriously injured came forward on Monday. Rabbi Yisroel Wilhelm, the Chabad director at the University of Colorado, Boulder, told CBS Colorado that the 88-year-old victim was a Holocaust refugee who fled Europe. Sunday's attack was not the first high-profile incident of mass violence in Boulder, a university town that attracts many young professionals and outdoor enthusiasts. In 2021, a gunman fatally shot 10 people, including an off-duty police officer, in a local supermarket. — Reuters
