Man faces 28 attempted murder charges for Colorado firebombing

BOULDER, Colo. (CN) — Prosecutors on Thursday filed 118 charges against a man arrested following an attack on Jewish demonstrators who regularly gather in Boulder, Colorado, to raise awareness of Israeli hostages being held captive by Hamas.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, was arrested on Sunday after he attacked 15 people and a dog with homemade explosives, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors say Soliman yelled “free Palestine” as he burned attendees at a “Run for Their Lives” event held June 1 at Boulder’s famed Pearl Street Mall.

Once taken into custody, court documents report that Soliman told investigators he had been planning to attack the “Zionist group” for a year, hoping to bring “vengeance for his people,” and that he learned how to make the explosives on YouTube.

Last November, Soliman attempted to purchase a handgun and filed for a concealed handgun permit but was denied on both applications due to a failed background check, as reported by KVDR.

Boulder police officers say they found more than a dozen Molotov cocktails in Soliman’s backpack and a weed sprayer containing flammable liquid. According to the arrest affidavit, Soliman doused himself with gasoline, intending to self-immolate rather than be taken into custody.

In all, Soliman attacked 15 people, aged 25 to 88, and a dog. He faces 28 counts of attempted murder after deliberation and with extreme indifference, as well as 14 counts of assault and more than a dozen counts each of possessing an incendiary device and committing a crime of violence.

Each charge of attempted first-degree murder carries up to 48 years in prison.

An Egyptian immigrant, Soliman had been living in Colorado Springs, two hours south of Boulder. On Wednesday, Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced Immigration and Customs Enforcement had taken Soliman’s entire family into custody to investigate involvement in the attack, even though Soliman had told law enforcement they were unaware of his plan.

Besides facing state charges, U.S. attorneys have charged Soliman with committing a hate crime involving actual or perceived race, religion or national origin, on which he will appear in federal court Friday.

Twentieth Judicial District Judge Nancy Salomone, a Jared Polis appointee, presided over the brief hearing at the Boulder County Jail. Separated by a panel of glass from the courtroom, Soliman communicated with the judge by nodding.

Soliman is represented by public defender Kathryn Herold, who requested a preliminary hearing, scheduled for July 15.

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