Boulder, Colorado (AP) – A large crowd gathered at the Jewish Community Center in Boulder, Colorado. Firefighting attack in downtown city A federal judge has intervened to stop the deportation of the suspect’s family.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, faces charges of federal hate crimes and attempted murder related to an assault on a group this past Sunday. Israeli hostage release in Gaza. He is currently held in county jail with a cash bond set at $10 million, and is due to appear in state court on Thursday.
Witnesses reported that Soliman hurled two Molotov cocktails at the group, resulting in injuries to 15 individuals.
Rachel Halpern, who has participated in the group since 2023, recalled a Wednesday evening vigil when she noticed a man wielding a canister that looked like it was spraying pesticides on the lawn. She then heard a crash and saw flames engulfing her legs.
“A woman was standing just a foot behind me, completely engulfed in flames, lying on the ground next to her husband,” she recounted. “In an instant, three or four men rushed to her aid to put out the flames.”
This account prompted an emotional response from attendees. One woman buried her head in her hands.
“I heard a loud noise, felt the back of my legs burning, and the next moments are a blur,” stated the victim, who was identified by speakers at the event but chose not to speak on camera. “Even though I witnessed it unfold, it felt surreal.”
Investigation of the defendant’s family
US District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher approved a protective request on Wednesday for Soliman’s wife and five children, who face no charges.
Federal officials report that Soliman is living in the United States illegally, and Homeland Security Director Christie Noem announced on Wednesday that the family is undergoing removal processing. It is unusual for the family of a suspect to face detainment or deportation threats.
“It is evidently illegal to penalize an individual for a relative’s crime,” argued the family’s attorney in the lawsuit.
Homeland Security Deputy Director Tricia McLaughlin described the plaintiff’s claims as “absurd” and a “deliberate attempt to stall justice,” adding that the entire family is undocumented.
According to Eric Lee, one of Soliman’s lawyers, his wife, 17-year-old daughter Hayam El Gamal, and their minor children were detained in a Texas immigration facility.
Court documents reveal that Soliman stated no one knew about his planned attack, including his family. El Gamal expressed her “shock” upon learning her husband had been arrested.
Increased number of victims
On Wednesday, authorities revised the count of those injured in the attack to 15, which includes dogs.
Boulder County officials indicated in a press release that the victims comprise eight women and seven men, aged 25 to 88. Shannon Carbon, a spokesperson for the Boulder County Department of Justice, noted that more detailed information on the victims will be provided as criminal charges are filed on Thursday.
Soliman had aimed to kill all 20 participants at the Sunday demonstration at the well-frequented Pearl Street pedestrian mall but instead threw only two of his 18 Molotov cocktails while shouting “Free Palestine.”
According to an FBI affidavit, Soliman expressed a desire to “kill all Zionists,” referring to efforts aimed at establishing and preserving Israel’s Jewish state. Authorities noted he showed no remorse for the attack.
Family’s immigration situation
Court records show that Soliman lived in Kuwait for 17 years before relocating to Colorado Springs three years ago.
Soliman entered the US in August 2022 on a tourist visa that expired in February 2023, as stated by McLaughlin on a post on X.
According to a report from the Department of Homeland Security, hundreds of thousands of individuals continue to apply for visas to the United States each year.
The lawsuit mentions that Soliman’s wife is an Egyptian citizen, a network engineer with a pending EB-2 visa, available to professionals holding advanced degrees. She and her children are stated as relying on Soliman’s asylum application.
Litigation against Soliman
Soliman informed authorities he had planned the attack for a year, according to the affidavit.
Soliman’s attorney, Kathryn Herold, refrained from commenting after a state court hearing on Monday due to public defender policies that prohibit media engagement.
The attack occurred against a backdrop of the Israel-Hamas War, which has seen a rise in anti-Semitic violence across the United States. This incident took place at the onset of the Shavuot Jewish Holiday, merely a week after a man was indicted for a fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staff outside the Jewish Museum in Washington.
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Goldman contributed to this report from Seattle. Associated Press reporters Eric Tucker of Washington, Heather Hollingsworth of Kansas City, Missouri, Sammy Magdy of Cairo, Hannah Schoenbaum of Salt Lake City, and Sean Murphy of Oklahoma City also contributed.
Source: apnews.com