Colorado fire-bomb suspect planned attack for a year
BOULDER, COLORADO—An illegal migrant from Egypt spent a year planning the Boulder, Colorado, attack where he used Molotov cocktails instead of a gun because his noncitizen status barred 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 in the city of Boulder 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 had learned to shoot a gun in a class he took for the purpose of obtaining a concealed-carry permit but ended up using Molotov cocktails because of his immigration status.
Soliman told investigators that he learned how to make fire bombs from YouTube.
Todd Lyons, acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said Soliman had overstayed a tourist visa and had 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 61 km south of Boulder, where he lived with his wife and five children.
On notice
“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.
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 University of Colorado.
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.
Authorities said witnesses heard shouts of “Free Palestine” during the attack.
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 said the suspect would be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law for what was described as an “antisemitic terror attack.”
Gasoline sprayer
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, standing and wearing an orange jumpsuit. He answered “yes” to some procedural questions but otherwise did not speak.
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 charges in state court.
