Latest news with #firebomb
Arab News
16-07-2025
- Arab News
State prosecution in firebombing attack on demonstration for Israeli hostages moves ahead
DENVER: A judge ruled Tuesday that Colorado prosecutors can move ahead with their case against a man accused of killing one person and injuring a dozen more in a firebomb attack on demonstrators showing support for Israeli hostages in Gaza. A police detective had been set to testify at a hearing explaining the evidence gathered against Mohamed Sabry Soliman in the June 1 attack on the weekly event in Boulder. But Soliman's lawyer, Kathryn Herold, told Judge Nancy W. Salomone that he gave up his right to hear the evidence. Soliman, wearing an orange and white striped jail uniform, told Salomone that he understood he was waiving his right to a hearing following a discussion with his lawyers Monday. Despite that, prosecutors and victims who sat across the courtroom from Soliman or watched the hearing online were caught off guard by the decision. Salomone said the case would now move ahead to an arraignment and scheduled a Sept. 9 hearing for Soliman to enter a plea to murder, attempted murder and other charges over the defense's objection. Herold said Soliman would not be ready to enter a plea then because of the large amount of evidence in the case and the murder charges recently added against him following the death of Karen Diamond, an 82-year-old woman injured in the attack. Herold said she expected to ask for the arraignment hearing to be delayed and suggested that a plea deal was possible. 20th Judicial District Attorney Michael Dougherty objected to a delay, saying any discussions could happen before and after an arraignment. He declined to comment on the possibility of a deal after the hearing. Investigators say Soliman told them he intended to kill the roughly 20 participants at the weekly event on Boulder's Pearl Street pedestrian mall. But he threw just two of more than two dozen Molotov cocktails he had with him while yelling, 'Free Palestine!' Police said he told them he got scared because he had never hurt anyone before. Federal authorities say Soliman, an Egyptian national, had been living in the US illegally with his family at the time. Soliman has pleaded not guilty to federal hate crime charges and is scheduled to go on trial in federal court in Denver in September. However, his lawyers told US District Judge John L. Kane last week that they expect to ask for a delay. Additional charges related to Diamond's death could also slow down the federal proceedings. Assistant US Attorney Laura Cramer-Babycz told Kane that prosecutors have not decided yet whether to file additional charges against Soliman. Federal prosecutors allege the victims were targeted because of their perceived or actual connection to Israel. But Soliman's federal defense lawyers say he should not have been charged with hate crimes because the evidence shows he was motivated by opposition to Zionism, the political movement to establish and sustain a Jewish state in Israel. An attack motivated by someone's political views is not considered a hate crime under federal law. State prosecutors have identified 29 victims in the attack. Thirteen of them were physically injured, and the others were nearby and are considered victims because they could have been hurt. A dog was also injured in the attack, so Soliman has also been charged with animal cruelty.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Yahoo
Suspect in Boulder firebomb attack waives preliminary hearing
The man accused of killing one person and injuring a dozen more in a firebomb attack on Boulder demonstrators waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday.
Washington Post
15-07-2025
- Washington Post
Colorado prosecutors to lay out evidence in firebomb attack on demonstration for Israeli hostages
DENVER — Colorado prosecutors are set to lay out their evidence Tuesday against a man charged with murder , attempted murder and other crimes in a firebomb attack on demonstrators showing their support for Israeli hostages in Gaza. Investigators say Mohamed Sabry Soliman told them he intended to kill the roughly 20 participants at the weekly demonstration on Boulder's Pearl Street pedestrian mall on June 1. But he threw just two of more than two dozen Molotov cocktails he had with him while yelling, 'Free Palestine!' Police said he told them he got scared because he had never hurt anyone before.
Associated Press
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Colorado prosecutors to lay out evidence in firebomb attack on demonstration for Israeli hostages
DENVER (AP) — Colorado prosecutors are set to lay out their evidence Tuesday against a man charged with murder, attempted murder and other crimes in a firebomb attack on demonstrators showing their support for Israeli hostages in Gaza. Investigators say Mohamed Sabry Soliman told them he intended to kill the roughly 20 participants at the weekly demonstration on Boulder's Pearl Street pedestrian mall on June 1. But he threw just two of more than two dozen Molotov cocktails he had with him while yelling, 'Free Palestine!' Police said he told them he got scared because he had never hurt anyone before. Federal authorities say Soliman, an Egyptian national, had been living in the U.S. illegally with his family. The purpose of Tuesday's preliminary hearing in state court in Boulder is for District Judge Nancy Woodruff Salomone to determine if there's enough evidence for Soliman to go on trial there. Soliman already faced dozens of charges in state court as well as hate crime charges in federal court when state prosecutors added murder charges following the death of an 82-year-old woman who was injured in the attack died as the result of her injuries. Karen Diamond helped at her synagogue and volunteered for several local groups, including the University of Colorado University Women's Club and a local music festival. Last week, Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Cramer-Babycz told U.S. District Judge John L. Kane that federal prosecutors have not decided yet whether to file additional charges against Soliman related to Diamond's death. Federal prosecutors allege the victims were targeted because of their perceived or actual connection to Israel. But Soliman's federal defense lawyers say he should not have been charged with hate crimes because the evidence shows he was motivated by opposition to Zionism, the political movement to establish and sustain a Jewish state in Israel. An attack motivated by someone's political views is not considered a hate crime under federal law. Soliman has pleaded not guilty to the hate crime charges. He has not been asked to enter a plea to the state charges yet. State prosecutors have identified 29 people who are considered victims of the attack, including 13 who were physically injured. The others were nearby and are considered victims because they could have been hurt. A dog was also injured in the attack, so Soliman has also been charged with animal cruelty. Tuesday's hearing was set to move ahead over the objections of Soliman's state public defenders, who asked to delay it after Diamond died and Soliman was charged with murder. In a court filing last week, they said they were not aware of an autopsy report being done for Diamond yet and asked to delay the hearing until October so they would be be able to review 'significant medical records' in advance.
BreakingNews.ie
05-07-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Boy (14) accused of firebomb attack which ‘gutted' family home and killed pet husky in Dublin
A 14-year-old boy showed no remorse for taking part in a firebomb attack that destroyed an innocent family's home in Dublin and killed their pet husky trapped in the blaze, a court has heard. The teenager, charged with arson of the house on Landen Road, Ballyfermot, which was left gutted on May 21st, was denied bail on Saturday. Advertisement The teen was remanded to the Oberstown Children Detention Campus after appearing before Judge Maire Conneely at Dublin District Court. The boy cannot be named because he is a juvenile with the right to anonymity. He made no reply when charged ahead of his court appearance after he was deemed unsuitable for inclusion in the Garda Youth Diversion Programme. Objecting to bail due to the seriousness of the case, Garda Alan McGinty recounted that at 2.28am, gardaí responded to a report of a domestic fire at the home. Advertisement They learned that one resident was asleep in the living room, but he woke to the sound of glass smashing and found the room was on fire. The man's wife, son and their dog were in the property at the time. He alerted his wife and son, and they got out, but the pet husky "was still trapped inside and died in the fire". The court heard the innocent family's home was "totally" destroyed in the attack, after which a witness overheard a male yell "wrong house". Evidence was given that two males in balaclavas arrived at the house on an electric bicycle, and the defendant was allegedly the driver, while his passenger carried and threw the burning petrol can. Advertisement Images of the scene were handed over to the court, which also heard there was CCTV footage, but the judge held it was unnecessary to view the video. She noted allegations that a jerrycan of petrol was bought at a service station three hours before the incident and brought to and hidden in bushes at a building in the Dolphin's Barn area. It was alleged that shortly before 2.30am, two males arrived in a taxi, put on balaclavas, and travelled to Landen Road on an electric bicycle. Garda McGinty alleged that they could be tracked on CCTV, and after the arson, they returned to the Dolphin's Barn area and handed the electric bicycle back to another person. Advertisement It was alleged that the boy and another male went away in a taxi, and the vehicle's dashcam footage has been retrieved, leading to his identification. The jacket he allegedly wore in the taxi was found during a search of his home. Garda McGinty stated that during the interview, the teenager, who has no prior criminal convictions, showed no remorse. The boy, supported in court by his mother and other family members, sat silently at the side of the courtroom and has not yet indicated a plea. Advertisement The judge noted that no bail terms would alleviate the concerns of the investigation team. A decision has yet to be made on his trial venue, but defence barrister Kevin McCrave submitted it was likely the case would go to the Circuit Court, which has greater sentencing powers. He submitted that refusal of bail would mean he could be held for a year before his trial and disrupt his education. He urged the judge to note that the teenager would abide by a myriad of strict conditions available to the court. Referencing the Children's Act, he cited the law, which sets out that detention should be a last resort. He stressed the teen had the presumption of innocence, no prior convictions, history of drug abuse or failing to appear in court, and there was no witness intimidation evidence. However, Judge Conneely held that the garda had established a case for refusing bail and remanded the boy in custody to appear at the Children's Court on Wednesday. On Friday, a 15-year-old boy, also accused of arson, was denied bail too after a judge heard a description of the video evidence. "This male passenger walks into the driveway, sets the jerrycan alight, throws a stone through the window, and throws the jerrycan full of petrol into the sitting room where the occupant of the house is sleeping, and the house is set alight," Detective Garda Michael McNulty had told the Children's Court. That boy, who also has the right to anonymity due to his age, will appear again on Friday. Adult co-defendant Curtis Stafford, 23, of Rutland Grove, Crumlin, appeared before Judge Paula Murphy at Dublin District Court on Friday, also facing a connected arson charge. Garda Kevin Coller alleged Mr Stafford, who has still to enter a plea, purchased the jerrycan of petrol used in the incident. The unemployed man was refused bail and was remanded in custody to appear again on July 11th. All three have been granted legal aid.
