Boulder Attack on Demonstrators for Israeli Hostage Release: Details Emerge
Mohamed Sabry Soliman, identified as the assailant, faces multiple charges in connection with the attack that injured demonstrators advocating for the release of hostages in Gaza.
In Boulder, Colorado, a violent incident occurred on Sunday involving demonstrators advocating for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza.
The alleged assailant, 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, has been charged with multiple offenses, including federal hate crimes and attempted murder.
Soliman, who disguised himself as a gardener during the attack, reportedly confessed to police that his original intention was to kill all the demonstrators.
He shouted "Free Palestine" while throwing two of the 18 Molotov cocktails he was carrying, resulting in injuries to over half of the estimated 20 individuals at the demonstration.
The number of reported victims has increased from 12 to 15, including a dog.
One of the injured is a Holocaust survivor, who chose to remain anonymous.
Police have not disclosed further information about the newly identified victims.
Soliman is currently being held on a cash-only bond set at $10 million and is scheduled to appear in a Boulder County courtroom.
Federal charges could be forthcoming as the investigation continues.
Soliman's legal representation is provided by public defender Kathryn Herold, who has declined to comment on the case after initial hearings.
Soliman, who entered the United States on a visa that expired in February 2023, had applied for asylum and received work authorization in March 2023, but that has since lapsed.
Born in Egypt and having lived in Kuwait for 17 years, he lived in Colorado Springs with his wife and five children prior to the incident.
Immigration authorities took Soliman's family into custody following the attack, and they are undergoing processing by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Federal officials are examining whether Soliman's family had any knowledge of his planned attack.
Soliman reportedly stated to law enforcement that he acted alone and that his family was unaware of his intentions.
The motives behind the attack have been cited as deeply rooted in animosity towards what Soliman referred to as "Zionist people." The Boulder incident was classified as a premeditated attack, targeting what Soliman termed a "Zionist group," as noted in federal court documents.
The hate crime charges he faces carry a potential sentence of life imprisonment under federal law for offenses involving attempted murder.
State charges against him include 16 counts of attempted first-degree murder, alongside other related offenses.
This attack coincided with the beginning of the Jewish holiday Shavuot and comes amidst a rise in reported antisemitic incidents in the United States, linked to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Just prior to the Boulder attack, another individual was charged in a separate incident for fatally shooting two Israeli embassy staff members outside a Jewish museum in Washington after making similar statements.
The demonstrators targeted in this attack are part of “Run for Their Lives,” an advocacy group that began in October 2023 following Hamas's incursion into Israel, which resulted in numerous casualties and hostage situations.
The organization operates 230 chapters worldwide and aims to raise awareness about the hostages still in Gaza.
The victims of the attack, who vary in age from 25 to 88, include eight women and seven men, and their injuries range from serious to minor.
Ongoing medical treatment is being provided to three victims at the UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital.
Following the attack, FBI officials stated they are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident, which has been characterized as a targeted act of terror.
Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn affirmed an initial assessment of the situation as terrorism, noting that there was no effort to conceal the nature of the attack.
The alleged assailant, 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, has been charged with multiple offenses, including federal hate crimes and attempted murder.
Soliman, who disguised himself as a gardener during the attack, reportedly confessed to police that his original intention was to kill all the demonstrators.
He shouted "Free Palestine" while throwing two of the 18 Molotov cocktails he was carrying, resulting in injuries to over half of the estimated 20 individuals at the demonstration.
The number of reported victims has increased from 12 to 15, including a dog.
One of the injured is a Holocaust survivor, who chose to remain anonymous.
Police have not disclosed further information about the newly identified victims.
Soliman is currently being held on a cash-only bond set at $10 million and is scheduled to appear in a Boulder County courtroom.
Federal charges could be forthcoming as the investigation continues.
Soliman's legal representation is provided by public defender Kathryn Herold, who has declined to comment on the case after initial hearings.
Soliman, who entered the United States on a visa that expired in February 2023, had applied for asylum and received work authorization in March 2023, but that has since lapsed.
Born in Egypt and having lived in Kuwait for 17 years, he lived in Colorado Springs with his wife and five children prior to the incident.
Immigration authorities took Soliman's family into custody following the attack, and they are undergoing processing by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Federal officials are examining whether Soliman's family had any knowledge of his planned attack.
Soliman reportedly stated to law enforcement that he acted alone and that his family was unaware of his intentions.
The motives behind the attack have been cited as deeply rooted in animosity towards what Soliman referred to as "Zionist people." The Boulder incident was classified as a premeditated attack, targeting what Soliman termed a "Zionist group," as noted in federal court documents.
The hate crime charges he faces carry a potential sentence of life imprisonment under federal law for offenses involving attempted murder.
State charges against him include 16 counts of attempted first-degree murder, alongside other related offenses.
This attack coincided with the beginning of the Jewish holiday Shavuot and comes amidst a rise in reported antisemitic incidents in the United States, linked to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Just prior to the Boulder attack, another individual was charged in a separate incident for fatally shooting two Israeli embassy staff members outside a Jewish museum in Washington after making similar statements.
The demonstrators targeted in this attack are part of “Run for Their Lives,” an advocacy group that began in October 2023 following Hamas's incursion into Israel, which resulted in numerous casualties and hostage situations.
The organization operates 230 chapters worldwide and aims to raise awareness about the hostages still in Gaza.
The victims of the attack, who vary in age from 25 to 88, include eight women and seven men, and their injuries range from serious to minor.
Ongoing medical treatment is being provided to three victims at the UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital.
Following the attack, FBI officials stated they are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident, which has been characterized as a targeted act of terror.
Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn affirmed an initial assessment of the situation as terrorism, noting that there was no effort to conceal the nature of the attack.