Man charged with hate crime in Boulder attack on 'Zionist people' appears in federal court
Share this @internewscast.com

A man who admitted to investigators that he aimed “to kill all Zionist people” when he hurled Molotov cocktails at demonstrators advocating for awareness of Israeli hostages made his first brief appearance in federal court on Friday to address a hate crime accusation.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman, age 45, was seated in the jury box of a Denver courtroom, with his hands cuffed and wearing a green jail outfit. A U.S. Marshal was positioned just behind him. Through an interpreter, Soliman listened to the proceedings in Arabic, responding with “yes” and “I understand” in Arabic as Magistrate Judge Timothy P. O’Hara detailed his legal rights.

Prior to the commencement of the hearing, Soliman mainly avoided eye contact with the numerous spectators, but after the session concluded, he nodded and smiled while his attorneys communicated with him.

A conviction on a hate crime charge typically carries a penalty of no more than 10 years in prison, but Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Hindman said if the crime involves an attempted killing, the sentence can be as long as life in prison.

Soliman is represented by public defenders who do not comment on their cases to the media. He is scheduled to appear in federal court again June 18 for a hearing in which federal prosecutors will be asked to show they have enough evidence to prosecute Soliman. He’ll face a similar hearing in state court July 15.

He is accused in Sunday’s attack on the weekly demonstration in Boulder, which investigators say he planned for a year. The victims include 15 people and a dog. He has also been charged in state court in Boulder with attempted murder and assault counts as well as counts related to the 18 Molotov cocktails police say he carried to the demonstration.

Investigators say Soliman told them he had intended to kill all of the roughly 20 participants at the weekly demonstration on Boulder’s popular Pearl Street pedestrian mall, but he threw just two of his 18 Molotov cocktails while yelling “Free Palestine.” Soliman told investigators he tried to buy a gun but was not able to because he was not a “legal citizen.”

Federal authorities say Soliman, an Egyptian national, has been living in the U.S. illegally.

Soliman did not carry out his full plan “because he got scared and had never hurt anyone before,” police wrote in an arrest affidavit.

Not all of the victims were physically injured. Some of them are considered victims because they were in the area and could potentially have been hurt in the attack, 20th Judicial District Michael Dougherty said Thursday.

Three victims remained in the hospital Friday, UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital spokesperson Dan Weaver said.

The dog was among the injured, which resulted in an animal cruelty charge being filed against Soliman, Dougherty said.

Soliman told investigators that he waited until after his daughter graduated from school before launching the attack, according to court documents.

Federal authorities want to deport Soliman’s wife and their five children, who range from 4 to 17 years old, but a judge issued an order Wednesday halting deportation proceedings until a lawsuit challenging their deportation can be considered. Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin has described their claims as “absurd” and “an attempt to delay justice.”

U.S. immigration officials took Soliman’s wife and children into custody Tuesday. They are being held at a family immigration detention center in Texas.

According to a court document filed Friday by the family’s lawyers, law enforcement had arranged for Soliman’s wife and children to stay in a hotel while their home was searched following the attack. After two nights, Homeland Security Investigations agents told the family they had to move to another hotel for their safety and were then met by between 10 and 20 plainclothes officers who took them into custody, the filing said.

According to the document, one of them allegedly told Soliman’s wife, “You have to pay for the consequences of what you did.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Several detained in Homeland Security operation at Accelerated Global Operations, SpeedX warehouse on Busse Road: witnesses

Multiple Arrests Made by Homeland Security at SpeedX Warehouse on Busse Road, Report Witnesses

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill. (WLS) — Witnessing a Homeland Security Investigations operation…
Transportation chief seeks to weaken fuel economy standards, calls Biden-era rule 'illegal'

Transportation Chief Aims to Revise Fuel Economy Standards, Deems Biden-Era Rules ‘Illegal’

DETROIT (AP) — On Friday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the…
Israeli forces recover body of Thai hostage killed in Gaza by terror group

Israeli Military Retrieves Body of Thai Hostage Slain by Terror Group in Gaza

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! The Israeli military has…

Father Accused of Killing Three Daughters Suspected of Hiding Near Tourist Site, Recent Photo Fuels Speculation

THE dad accused of killing his three daughters is believed to be…
Experienced climber dies after 3,000-foot plummet from North America's highest peak

Veteran Mountaineer Falls 3,000 Feet to His Death from Highest Summit in North America

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A Seattle man died…
Elon Musk hints at new ‘America Party’ as Trump fumes billionaire has ‘lost his mind’ after bitter bromance break-up

Elon Musk Suggests Launching New ‘America Party’ Amid Tensions with Trump After Friendship Fallout

ELON Musk has hinted at launching a new political party amid a…
Jack Daniel's maker reveals surprising reason why Americans are drinking less whiskey

Jack Daniel’s Maker Uncovers Unexpected Reasons for Decline in American Whiskey Consumption

Executives from Jack Daniel’s parent company, Brown-Forman Corp., have indicated that the…
The Baked Bear is serving up ice cream sandwiches all over San Francisco, including Warriors' Thrive City

The Baked Bear is bringing ice cream sandwiches to various locations in San Francisco, including Warriors’ Thrive City

The Bay Area has a longstanding tradition with ice cream sandwiches, and…
Photo of missing teenager Phoebe Bishop.

A Heartbreaking Journey: The 3-Week Search for Pheobe Bishop – From Vanishing at the Airport to Arrests and a Devastating Discovery

PHEOBE Bishop mysteriously vanished over three weeks ago in a gripping disappearance…
On 81st anniversary of D-Day, one US Navy veteran's son is the first American Pope

81 Years After D-Day, Son of US Navy Veteran Becomes First American Pope

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Marking the 81st year…
Jennifer Garner kisses boyfriend John Miller in rare PDA pics

Jennifer Garner and Boyfriend John Miller Share a Rare Public Kiss in New Photos

Things are heating up between Jennifer Garner and her boyfriend John Miller.…
Falcons taking calls for potential Kyle Pitts trade: NFL insider

Falcons open to trade discussions for Kyle Pitts, according to NFL insider

Teams are making calls to acquire Kyle Pitts from the Falcons. ESPN…