During a preliminary hearing on Wednesday afternoon, federal authorities testified that the accused Boulder, Colorado Molotov bomber, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an illegal Egyptian national, used Israeli flags to select targets and had the Muslim liberation year “1187” inscribed on clothing items in his vehicle.
Soliman, aged 45, faces charges including multiple counts of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, possession of incendiary devices, and over a dozen counts of attempted use of an incendiary device in relation to the June 1 terror attack that injured 12 individuals.
He is also facing federal charges for allegedly committing a hate crime involving actual or perceived race, religion or national origin.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman is facing multiple charges following the incident in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday, June 1. (Boulder Police Dpt.)
During the testimony, Soliman, donning a brown crew-neck t-shirt and an interpreter’s headset, gently rocked in his seat and observed the courtroom. Although there were no cameras present in the courtroom, a Fox News reporter observed that he had a cast on his right hand.
After a brief recess, Judge Starnella said while there is debate around the second element of the statute—which is whether Soliman was motivated by national origin and how that is defined—she found probable cause for the case to move forward.
Starnella told Soliman’s attorneys she “understands that there is evidence that cuts against the national origin theory,” but said it is up to a jury to decide.
The court will reconvene June 27 for an arraignment and detention hearing. Soliman has not yet been indicted.
