A Violent Attack on a Peaceful Protest in Colorado
Dangerous, Prearranged Assault on American Jewish Protest Gathering
In a shocking turn of events, a demonstration supporting Israeli hostages in Gaza ended in chaos when a man, later identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national without a valid visa, hurled Molotov cocktails and used a flamethrower-like device at unsuspecting protestors in Boulder, Colorado. By Monday, the number of injured individuals had grown from eight to twelve.
The victims, ranging in age from 52 to 88 years old, included an elderly Holocaust survivor. The attack took place on Sunday at the Pearl Street Mall, leaving eight injured individuals initially hospitalized. Among them, one person was critically injured[1][2]. Four more victims, with less severe injuries, were identified on Monday.
Witnesses report that Soliman shouted pro-Palestinian slogans, such as "Free Palestine," during the attack[1][2]. Investigators believe he had planned this attack for a considerable period and had prepared more than a dozen additional Molotv cocktails that went unused.
The Suspect's Background
Soliman entered the US on a tourist visa in August 2022 but overstayed his visa, which expired in February 2023. He filed for asylum in September 2022 and was granted a work permit after his visa expired. However, his work permit expired on March 28, 2023, making him an illegal resident during the attack[2]. Prior to the incident, Soliman had been living in Colorado Springs[1].
The FBI Investigation and Legal Proceedings
The FBI is treating this attack as a targeted act of violence and is investigating it as an act of terrorism. Soliman is charged with multiple felony counts, including attempted murder and a federal hate crimes charge[1][2]. He is currently being held on a $10 million bond and faced court on Monday afternoon[2]. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has denounced the attack as a hate crime, considering the targeted nature of the attack[1].
[1] https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/28/us/colorado-boulder-molotov-attack/index.html[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/28/us/colorado-man-attack-molotov-cocktail.html
The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive regarding the legal proceedings of Mohamed Sabry Soliman, who is charged with multiple felony counts, including attempted murder and a federal hate crimes charge. The incident, a targeted act of violence, falls under the category of general-news and crime-and-justice politics, as it involves an act of terrorism.
