Topline
The suspect in the attack on a pro-Israel gathering in downtown Boulder was charged with a federal hate crime Monday after telling authorities while in custody he wanted to “kill all Zionist people,” as President Donald Trump blamed Biden-era border policies after officials said the suspect was in the U.S. illegally.
Law enforcement officials investigate after an attack on the Pearl Street Mall Sunday, in Boulder, … More
Key Facts
Mohamed Soliman, 45, told federal law enforcement he planned the attack for over a year and traveled to Boulder from his home in Colorado Springs specifically to target the group gathered in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza, according to an affidavit.
Soliman told investigators “he hated the Zionist group” and wanted “to stop them from taking over ‘our land,’ which he explained to be Palestine,” court papers say.
Soliman threw two Molotov cocktails at the group gathered in front of the Boulder Courthouse just before 1:30 p.m. local time Sunday and yelled “Free Palestine!” leaving eight injured, according to court documents.
Video footage of him taken immediately after the incident shows him shirtless and pacing, holding what appear to be additional incendiary devices, before he was taken into custody.
The victims, four men and four women between the ages of 52 to 88, suffered injuries ranging from serious to minor; no one had died as of Monday afternoon, though Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser told MSNBC Monday one victim is in critical condition.
Originally from Egypt, Soliman entered the U.S. in August 2022 on a B-2 visa that expired in February 2023, Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Monday.
Trump Blames Attack On “biden’s Ridiculous Open Border Policy”
Soliman “came in through Biden’s ridiculous Open Border Policy, which has hurt our Country so badly. He must go out under ‘TRUMP’ Policy,” Trump wrote, adding that his “heart goes out to the victims of this terrible tragedy, and the Great People of Boulder, Colorado!”
Netanyahu Condemns Attack
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement Monday “the entire state of Israel” was praying for the victims. He said the attack “was aimed against peaceful people who wished to express their solidarity with the hostages” and called on authorities to prosecute the suspect “to the fullest extent of the law and do everything possible to prevent future attacks against innocent civilians.”
What Is A B-2 Visa?
B-2 visas are granted for a maximum of six months to people who want to visit the U.S. temporarily for tourism, medical treatment or to visit with friends or relatives.
What Other Charges Could Soliman Face?
Boulder County Sheriff’s Department records show he was taken into custody on two charges of first-degree murder, among eight total counts, though state prosecutors have yet to file official charges. His arraignment is scheduled for Monday at 3:30 p.m ET.
What Else Do We Know About The Attack?
Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said they do not believe any accomplice of the suspect was still at large and they have not been able to confirm initial reports suggesting there were two people involved in the attack. “We are not going to say that with absolute certainty, because we are still conducting a lot of interviews,” the police chief said. Michalek said there was no immediate indication that the suspect was linked any specific group, but noted that the investigation was still ongoing.
What Do We Know About The Event Targeted By The Attack?
The gathering targeted by the attack was organized by a national group called “Run for Their Lives”, which does weekly demonstrations to raise awareness about the hostages still being held by Hamas and its affiliates in Gaza. The group’s website describes the event as a weekly 1-kilometer (0.6-mile) walk or run. In a statement on Instagram, the group said their walk in Boulder was “disrupted in a violent assault that Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser is calling a hate crime.” The statement added that Run for Their Lives is a “an apolitical global organization with the sole mission of walking peacefully to raise awareness for the 58 hostages still held in captivity by Hamas in Gaza.”
Crucial Quote
“My thoughts go out to the people who have been injured by this heinous and targeted act on the Jewish community…As the Jewish community reels from the recent antisemitic murders in Washington, D.C., it is unfathomable that the community is facing another antisemitic attack here in Boulder on the eve of the holiday of Shavuot…Hate is unacceptable in our Colorado for all, and I condemn this act of terror,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement.
Further Reading
8 people set on fire in ‘targeted act of violence’ on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall (Denver Post)
FBI says 8 injured in Colorado attack by man with makeshift flamethrower who yelled ‘Free Palestine’ (Associated Press)
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