BOULDER, Colo. (KOAA) — The man at the center of a suspected terror attack in Colorado is from El Paso County, according to the FBI.
The suspect was in the country illegally, according to a Department of Homeland Security Spokesperson (DHS). The DHS spokesperson explained that the suspect entered the country in August of 2022 on a B2 visa that expired in February of 2023, he filed for asylum in September of 2022.
The alleged attack was carried out in Boulder on Sunday during a pro-Israel demonstration along the Pearl Street Mall. Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said the department began receiving calls just before 1:30 p.m. Sunday about a man with a weapon setting people on fire outside the county courthouse. When authorities arrived, they took 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman into custody. Soliman was taken to the hospital before being taken to the Boulder County Jail, where he was booked on multiple charges. According to online jail records, Soliman was being held on a $10 million bond as of Monday morning.
WATCH LIVE AT 2:30 p.m. || Law Enforcement Officials to Provide Update on Boulder Attack
The FBI is reporting there were eight victims, four women and four men ages 52 to 88, two still in the hospital. In a press conference Monday afternoon, Boulder officials said, after conducting interviews, that there were 12 total victims.
You can watch Monday afternoon's press conference below:
One of those victims was listed in "critical" condition. As of Monday morning, all the victims were still alive, according to Boulder Police.
Witnesses reported that the suspect used a makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary device into the crowd. The suspect was also heard to yell “Free Palestine” during the attack.
The Justice Department filed federal charges against Soliman to include a federal hate crime on top of the attempted murder charges he's facing in Colorado. According to the federal complaint, Soliman told investigators he was planning the attack for a year and was waiting for her daughter to graduate. Throughout the interview, Soliman reportedly stated that he "hated the Zionist group and did this because he hated this group and needed to stop them from taking over 'our land,' which he explained to be Palestine." The complaint noted that based on the law enforcement official's experience and research, he knows "zionist" to mean individuals who believe in the establishment of a Jewish state and are supportive of the government of Israel.
Watch as the FBI Investigates Boulder Attack Suspect El Paso County Connections
News5 was at the home Soliman believed to live at, in Cimarron Hills, Sunday night, as the FBI investigated. The law enforcement activity took place in the Washo Circle area near Shawnee Drive.
“Our strength as a society comes from our shared values, and our commitment to protecting one another. Any attempt to divide us through fear or harm has no place in Boulder -- Colorado or anywhere in our nation,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “We stand in full solidarity with those targeted. And we will continue to ensure that justice is pursued swiftly, support is provided to victims and their communities, and preventative action is taken to protect everyone’s safety.”
Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI. Anyone with digital media -- videos, social media posts, digital recordings–– is asked to upload that at www.fbi.gov/boulderattack.
“Boulder is not immune to tragedy sadly and I know a lot of people are scared right now and questioning how this happened and why. Boulder has recovered before from acts of violence before and we will again recover. I urge this community to come together. Now is not the time to be divisive,” Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said. “When this call came out today, our officers rushed to the scene as quickly as they could to protect our community and arrest the suspect and I’m very proud of their response. I also greatly appreciate all of our law enforcement and community partners who responded to help as well. I want to assure our Boulder community that we will have increased presence at many events and locations throughout the city to ensure safety.”
In a joint statement, leaders of Boulder’s Jewish community expressed their sorrow.
"We are saddened and heartbroken to learn that an incendiary device was thrown at walkers at the Run for Their Lives walk on Pearl Street as they were raising awareness for the hostages still held in Gaza," the statement said.
Watch How Members of the Boulder Jewish Community are Reacting to the Attack
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said it appears that this was a "hate crime."
“People may have differing views about world events and the Israeli-Hamas conflict, but violence is never the answer to settling differences. Hate has no place in Colorado," he said. "We all have the right to peaceably assemble and the freedom to speak our views. But these violent acts—which are becoming more frequent, brazen, and closer to home—must stop and those who commit these horrific acts must be fully held to account.”
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