A man in Boulder, Colorado, is facing federal hate crime charges after he allegedly planned an attack for a year, targeting a group he referred to as “Zionists.” This came to light during a demonstration calling for the return of Israeli hostages in Gaza.
The details emerged from an FBI affidavit released on Monday, which confirmed that Mohamed Soliman admitted to carrying out the attack on Sunday.
He was also set to appear in court later that same day, facing several local charges.
Following his arrest, Soliman reportedly expressed a desire to repeat his actions, stating, “I want to kill all the Zionist people.” He indicated that he had learned about the group through online sources and waited for his daughter to graduate before executing his plan.
Authorities found a hidden iPhone at his desk containing messages for his family. His wife had previously contacted local police after the attack.
Police discovered a car registered to Soliman that had messages like “Israel,” “Palestine,” and “USAID” written on it, along with materials resembling Molotov cocktails, including gas containers and rags, according to the affidavit.
Federal agents are treating this incident as a targeted act of hate.
In response, Attorney General Pam Bondy condemned the attack, referencing the recent murder of two Israeli embassy officials in Washington, labeling the violence as “despicable anti-Semitic.” She emphasized that such hatred would not be tolerated, affirming that Jewish Americans should not face persecution for their identity or beliefs.
FBI agent Mark Mikalek noted that the suspects used a “make-up flamethrower” in the assault, which occurred during a weekly vigil for hostages. The victims of the attack included four men and four women, ranging in age from 52 to 88.
Late Sunday, the White House stated that Soliman’s visa situation made him unlawfully present in the country.
President Trump weighed in on Monday, condemning the attack and pointing to the Biden administration’s border policies.
