Antisemitic attack suspect's relatives detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Colorado
In the aftermath of the antisemitic Molotov cocktail attack in Boulder, Colorado, Mohamed Soliman's family found themselves in hot water. The family, consisting of a wife and five children, are currently being held in Florence, Colorado. Their immigration status is murky, but a DHS official confirmed to CNN that ICE had taken them into custody on Tuesday.
Soliman, the accused attacker, is no stranger to the law. The FBI identified him as the sole suspect in the attack, where he allegedly used a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to set ablaze participants at a pro-Gaza rally.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the family's detainment, expressing concerns about their potential knowledge or support of the attack. Soliman reportedly told detectives that no one knew of his plans, stating that he never discussed them with his wife or family.
Politicians were quick to respond, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio warning terrorists, their family members, and sympathizers on a visa that the Trump Administration would find and deport them following the attack.
The attack left a dozen individuals between 25 and 88 years old injured, most of them older adults. The victims are expected to recover, but a husband and wife, members of Soloway's congregation, are still in critical condition with severe burns.
Soliman, now facing both federal hate crime and multiple state felony charges, was apprehended and appeared in court on Monday. His attorney has been approached for comment, but it remains unclear if the family has retained legal representation.
Soliman, an Egyptian national who lived in Kuwait for 17 years, had been working in the US temporarily before his arrest. He arrived in the US in August 2022 as a non-immigrant visitor and received a two-year work authorization that expired in March. Some questions still remain about his work history in the US.
The FBI searched Soliman's family home in Colorado Springs following the attack, and the family cooperated during the search. Soliman's wife handed over his iPhone to the Colorado Springs police following his arrest, which contained hidden messages presumably intended for his family 1.
UPDATE: A U.S. District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher issued an order on June 4, 2025, blocking the deportation of Soliman's wife and five children 1. The Department of Homeland Security is still investigating whether the family had any knowledge or support for the attack 1.
CNN's John Miller, Lauren Mascarenhas, Curt Devine, Majlie de Puy Kamp, Mostafa Salem, and Evan Perez contributed to this report.
The detainment of Soliman's family has sparked a political debate, with politicians expressing concerns about their potential knowledge or support of the attack, especially in light of the general-news story of the Molotov cocktail attack. Meanwhile, the investigation into the attack has unfolded, including the FBI's search of Soliman's family home in Colorado Springs and the Department of Homeland Security's ongoing investigation, focusing on crime-and-justice issues and the family's potential involvement.
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