DENVER (KDVR) The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is shedding light on how an Egyptian national living in Colorado Springs was denied a firearm purchase before a firebombing attack on a pro-Israel group on Sunday.

CBI Strategic Communications Director Rob Low said CBI was able to confirm that Soliman attempted to purchase a handgun at Scheels All Sports in Colorado Springs on Nov. 22, 2024.

“Colorado’s firearm background check system worked as designed when it comes to the actions of accused Boulder terrorism suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman,” Low said. “His application was processed through the CBI InstaCheck system, and shortly thereafter, Soliman’s attempted purchase was denied.”

Boulder suspect denied concealed handgun permit in 2024

CBI said Soliman never appealed the denial, which was based on information from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. He was also denied a concealed handgun permit through CBI and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 30, 2024. The denials triggered an electronic notification to immigration officials.

“While the CBI can’t say directly why an individual’s application might be denied, the CBI can acknowledge applications can be denied based on someone’s immigration status,” Low told FOX31. “Under those circumstances, the CBI will send ICE an electronic notification. Someone who is in the United States legally with no disqualifying criminal history is eligible to purchase a firearm.”

According to court records, when Soliman was denied the gun, he began to look for other avenues to allegedly commit the attack, later deciding to use Molotov cocktails and create a makeshift flamethrower.

The Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Tuesday that the agency is investigating whether there was prior knowledge of Soliman’s alleged plans to attack demonstrators, who were marching on the Pearl Street Mall to call for the release of hostages in Gaza. DHS’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement took Soliman’s partner and five children into custody.

The process to purchase a gun in Colorado starts with a federal form, known as form 4473, that asks about criminal history, mental health and immigration status. The state’s InstaCheck system, run by CBI, taps into a federal database.

“You can only legally buy a firearm if you are a legal U.S. resident,” explained Brady Taipale of Grandpa’s Pawn and Gun to affiliate KDVR’s Hanna Powers. “All we do is submit the customer’s information, their ID number, any information they need, and they get back to us with approved, denied or delayed.”

If the customer is denied, the sale stops right there. CBI says that is exactly what happened with Soliman.

“It seems like it works just fine, I don’t have a problem with the process,” said Taipale. “And also, for the record, you don’t have to be a U.S. citizen to buy a gun either you have to be a legal U.S. resident.”

White House says Boulder suspect’s family is being deported

The White House said on X that the family was being processed for expedited removal, which could occur as soon as Tuesday night.

DHS also said that Soliman entered the country in 2022 on a B-2 tourist visa, which is used for foreign tourist visits to the U.S. The visa expired in 2023, and he applied for asylum and was waiting for approval.

According to an affidavit for his arrest issued by the 20th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Colorado, Soliman planned his attack for the last year, waiting only for his daughter to graduate from high school before he committed his alleged plan.

FOX31 investigative efforts have not produced a criminal record for Soliman as of the publication of this report. FOX31 also reached out to ICE late Tuesday night to ask if the agency received an alert from CBI about the attempted gun purchase. No response was received at the time of publication.