Accused Colorado firebomber pleads not guilty to hate crimes at demonstration for Israeli hostages
Share this @internewscast.com

A man facing allegations of throwing Molotov cocktails at demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, who were rallying for Israeli hostages, entered a not guilty plea to federal hate crime charges on Friday.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman was charged earlier this week with 12 hate crime offenses related to the June 1 incident. He is accused of attempting to kill eight individuals who were injured by the Molotov cocktails, along with others in the vicinity.

Soliman’s attorney, David Kraut, entered the not guilty plea on Soliman’s behalf during a quick hearing.

Magistrate Judge Kathryn Starnella noted that lawyers had acknowledged that a plea agreement in the case was possible later.

Soliman, dressed in a khaki prison outfit, entered the courtroom with a smile, clutching an envelope in his cuffed hands. His right hand and arm were heavily bandaged, a result of burns sustained while allegedly throwing the second of two Molotov cocktails at the group, as revealed by an investigator’s testimony last week.

He listened to a translation of the hearing provided by an Arabic interpreter through headphones. He did not speak during the hearing.

Investigators say Soliman told them he intended to kill the roughly 20 participants at the weekly demonstration on Boulder’s Pearl Street pedestrian mall. But he threw just two of his over two dozen Molotov cocktails while yelling “Free Palestine.”

Soliman, who is also being prosecuted in state court for attempted murder and other charges, told investigators he tried to buy a gun but was not able to because he was not a “legal citizen.”

He posed as a gardener, wearing a construction vest, to get close to the group before launching the attack, according to court documents. He was also indicted for using fire and an explosive to attack the group and for carrying an explosive, which were included in the hate crime counts.

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

Soliman is being represented in state and federal court by public defenders who do not comment on their cases to the media.

Prosecutors say the victims were targeted because of their perceived or actual national origin.

At a hearing last week, Kraut, Soliman’s defense attorney, urged Starnella not to allow the case to move forward. Kraut said the alleged attack was not a hate crime. He said it was motivated by opposition to Zionism, the movement to establish and sustain a Jewish state in Israel.

An attack motivated by someone’s political views is not considered a hate crime under federal law.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Long-range Altius reconnaissance and strike drone in flight.

Five-Tonne AI War Drone Crashes into Russian House During Test Flight

THIS is the humiliating moment a hulking six-tonne Putin drone “guided by…
Holiday weekend turns deadly as gunfire erupts in Philadelphia residential neighborhood

Tragic Turn: Gunfire Erupts in Philadelphia Residential Area Over Holiday Weekend

Three people were killed, and nine others were wounded when gunfire broke…
Tragic pics of youngest victims in Texas floods from twin sisters, 8, to family member, 9, of Kansas City Chiefs owner

Heartbreaking Photos Reveal Youngest Victims of Texas Floods: Twin Sisters, 8, and 9-Year-Old Relative of Kansas City Chiefs Owner

The flash floods that swept through Central Texas last week resulted in…
Mayor Brandon Johnson discusses 4th of July violence, future of NASCAR Chicago

Mayor Brandon Johnson Addresses 4th of July Violence and the Future of NASCAR in Chicago

CHICAGO (WLS) — Mayor Brandon Johnson says he is open to bringing…
Disney reveals star-studded SDCC 2025 lineup featuring 'Percy Jackson,' 'Alien: Earth,' and more 

Disney Unveils Stellar SDCC 2025 Roster Highlighting ‘Percy Jackson,’ ‘Alien: Earth,’ and Other Exciting Titles

LOS ANGELES — Calling all Comic-Con crusaders, get ready for a weekend…
A Volotea airplane on a tarmac surrounded by emergency vehicles.

Chaos at Milan Airport: Trespasser Gets Pulled into Jet Engine Moments After Crashing Car and Evading Security

THE airport trespasser who was fatally sucked into a jet engine reportedly…
Helicopter dropping water on a wildfire.

Massive Fires Shut Down Marseille Airport With Large-Scale Evacuations Amidst Thick Smoke in France

“APOCALYPTIC” blazes have forced Marseilles International Airport to shut down as France…
Iranian sleeper cells may be hiding 'in plain sight' waiting to target rural US areas, terrorism expert warns

Terrorism Expert Warns of Potential Iranian Sleeper Cells in Rural US Areas

A counterterrorism expert says that Iranian sleeper cells may be hiding “in…
Deadlocked jurors in prep school lacrosse player's killing a challenge for prosecutors: expert

Experts say prosecutors face challenges as jury struggles to reach a verdict in prep school lacrosse player’s murder case.

A jury has reached a deadlock in the murder trial involving a…
Texas flooding: Death toll from catastrophic storm over the July Fourth weekend surpasses 100

Death Toll from Texas Flooding Over July Fourth Weekend Exceeds 100

The number of fatalities due to devastating floods in Texas over the…
My sister is trying to kill my 98-year-old mother

My Sister is Endangering Our 98-Year-Old Mother

DEAR ABBY: I reside five hours away from my hometown. My mom,…
Sean 'Diddy' Combs post-trial hearing set for Tuesday

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Scheduled for Post-Trial Hearing on Tuesday

MANHATTAN — Sean “Diddy” Combs is scheduled to join a virtual meeting…