Charges Filed Against Boulder Suspect for Hate Crimes

A suspect involved in a “targeted terrorist attack” in Boulder, Colorado, earlier this month has been formally charged with additional hate crimes. The individual, identified as Mohamed Sabri Soliman, now faces 12 counts of hate crimes for allegedly using Molotov cocktails to attack a group advocating for Israeli hostages in Gaza. He was initially charged with one hate crime shortly after the incident.

According to the indictment, Soliman entered a park near the Boulder County Courthouse on June 1, carrying a backpack sprayer filled with flammable liquids, along with a black container topped with glass bottles containing more flammable material. Some of these bottles had red rags packed inside that acted as wicks.

At approximately 1:30 PM, Soliman allegedly approached participants in a “running” demonstration and threw two Molotov cocktails while shouting “Free Palestine!”

Authorities later discovered handwritten documents in Soliman’s vehicle, which appeared to extend the ideology of Zionism, characterizing Israel as a “matter of cancer.”

Soliman, a 45-year-old illegal immigrant from Egypt, reportedly told law enforcement that he was searching for Israeli events online.

He further described witnessing a group “running for their lives” upon seeing them holding a flag outside the courthouse. This group promotes running and walking events aimed at advocating for the release of hostages in Gaza, particularly since October 7, 2023.

The indictment also states that Soliman aimed to injure eight individuals aged 52 to 88 who were targeted based on their perceived or actual country of origin. In a hearing last week, Soliman’s defense attorneys argued that the attack stemmed from a political opposition to Zionism, which they claim does not constitute a hate crime under federal law.

Soliman is set to appear in court this Friday to address the charges against him.