Suspect in the Colorado Fire Attack, planned for a year, says FBI

A man accused of throwing Molotov cocktails on demonstrators present in March for Israeli hostage in Colorado on Sunday is planning a one -year attack, investigators say.

Mohammed Sabri Soliman, 45 -year -old, who has been charged with a federal hatred crime, as well as in state accusations in attempting to kill, attack and use an explosive device, on Monday appeared in court on Monday.

Authorities say the Egyptian national is aimed at a group of Israel protesters at an outdoor mall in Boulder and called “Free Palestine” as he throws ignition devices, injuring eight of them.

At least 16 Molotov cocktails were found nearby afterwards. Investigators say he is targeting the group after finding them online.

This is the last attack on members of the Jewish community of America.

The weekly demonstration was organized by RUN for their lives, which raises awareness of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.

Authorities say that Soliman threw two ignition devices at the Pearl Street Mall, with eight victims suffering burns.

Twelve people, including four men and four women between the ages of 52 and 88, were taken to the hospital, with injuries from minor to serious.

Early employees said there were eight casualties, but on Monday, four more came out with minor injuries.

The largest of the victims survived the Holocaust, Rabbi Israel Wilhelm, director of Chabad at the University of Colorado Boulder, told CBS News to the US partner of the BBC.

The attacked happened at the beginning of Shavot’s Jewish holiday.

The suspect appeared in court on Monday through a video broadcast from Boulder County for less than five minutes, standing and dressed in an orange overall.

He answered yes to some procedural questions from the judge, but otherwise he did not speak. The court has scheduled a date for the official filing of the charges this Thursday.

The officials said on Monday that they thought he had acted alone.

In an interview after his arrest, Soliman told police that he had planned the attack for a year to take place after the high school of his daughter was completed, according to an application for arrest by the FBI.

He told the police that he wanted to “kill all Zionists” and would attack again, the court documents were said.

In addition to the cocktails of Molotov Molotov, a weed backpack containing octane gas was found nearby.

Soliman was dressed as a gardener with an orange vest to get as close as possible to the group of people, according to police.

Soliman said he watched videos on YouTube about how to make Molotov cocktails, according to the application.

Investigators say he told them that he had learned to shoot a gun in the hope of obtaining a disguised carry, but eventually used Molotov cocktails, as his immigration status prevented him from accessing a firearm.

Soliman drives from his home in Colorado Springs to Boulder, arriving five minutes before their meeting waiting for the group, according to court documents. He is said to have said he bought gasoline on his way to the attack.

According to the FBI, during the interview, Soliman said that he hated the Zionists and directed them to them because they must stop taking over “our land”, which he believes is a reference to the Palestinian territories.

It is alleged that Soliman has told employees that he has left his iPhone hidden in a drawer on the desk with messages to his family, wife and five children. Later, his wife brought an iPhone to officials, according to court documents.

Law enforcement officers said there were no previous indications on Monday that the defendant was a threat.

“We were fully intended to hold the Soliman responsible for his actions. These accusations are the first step,” said US County -based US County Jo Bishop Grewel at a press conference on Monday.

Soliman moved to Colorado Springs three years ago and had previously spent 17 years in Kuwait.

In 2022, Mr. Soliman arrived in California at a non-Migrant visa, which expired in February 2023, numerous sources told CBS News.

Homeland security officers said he had applied for asylum a month after his arrival, but did not provide details about the result of this case of immigration or whether it was resolved.

President Donald Trump’s deputy head of policy, Stephen Miller, told X that Soliman had received permission to work from the Biden administration after he exceeded his visa.

“In the light of yesterday’s horrific attack, all terrorists, members of their families and terrorist supporters here on a visa should know that in the Trump administration we will find you, cancel your visa and deport you,” said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio of X.

Soliman has been working as a driver of food delivery for Uber from 2023, a spokesman for the company told CBS.

According to the company, when he started working for them, he meets all Uber requirements, including the transition of a criminal and driving story check, providing a photo identification number and holding a valid social security number.

Trump said in a social media publication that attacks like the one that is Soliman is claimed to have been done will not be tolerated.

“This is another example of why we should keep our borders secure and deport illegal anti -American radicals from our homeland,” he said.

The Jewish community in the United States faces a series of attacks by attackers citing the Israeli war.

Last month, two Israeli embassy assistants were shot dead and killed outside the Washington Jewish Museum of Sofia. Witnesses said the attacker called “Free Palestine”.

In April, a man set fire to the residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who is a Jew. The suspect said the arson was a revenge on the Israeli attacks on the Palestinians.