Underestimated Threats: Understanding Motivations Behind Recent Attacks in Colorado

Media and local authorities might not fully grasp the motivations stemming from certain interpretations of Islamic beliefs, as demonstrated by recent attacks involving Muslim immigrants in Colorado.

One of the attackers, Mohamed Sabri Soliman, proclaimed in a video prior to the June 1 assault—which resulted in injuries to several Americans, including some who support counteractions against Hamas—that “Allah is bigger than Zionists.” In a passionate statement, he asserted:

To my mother, my wife, my children, my brother, my people: I will demonstrate my love for Allah before anyone else, even more than for you or the entire world.

In the translated video shared by a report, Soliman elaborated:

Allah is greater than America and its arsenal. Allah surpasses the F-35. So, why should we fear those who are beneath Allah rather than fearing Allah himself?

I told my family to act daily, and if they didn’t, I would be upset… yet, we often forget that Allah is above all. Not Zionists, not the United States, the UK, France, or Germany. Allah alone deserves our fear.

Muslims hold the Quran as the literal word of God, which includes dictates for extending the political influence of Islam, often through what is termed as Jihad Conquest. Despite the historically troubling actions attributed to Muhammad, many Muslims still name their children after him.

Soliman, along with his family from Egypt, migrated to the U.S. under President Biden’s more lenient immigration policies. He arrived on a Business Visitor Visa and subsequently overstayed without encountering any rigorous vetting process. Even so, he managed to work as an Uber driver after passing the required background checks.

Currently, about 5 million Muslims coexist with roughly 290 million Americans, alongside 50 million other immigrants.

Authorities, including the media and the FBI, have minimized the religious motives behind Soliman’s actions, attributing them instead to anger towards Israeli policies. This persistent misinterpretation may obscure the rising threat posed by such ideologies, particularly towards Jewish Americans, exacerbated by the Congress’s annual acceptance of about 1 million legal immigrants.

For instance, in a report, it was noted that after his arrest, Soliman expressed a desire to harm all Zionists, stating he wanted to stop their “taking over our land,” which he referred to as Palestine.

According to the FBI, Soliman admitted to investigators that his intent was driven by a need to “kill all Zionist people,” aligning with the definition of Zionism as a movement aimed at establishing and protecting a Jewish state in Israel.

The Colorado police affidavit indicated that while Islam wasn’t explicitly mentioned, health workers reported that Soliman viewed his actions as retaliation for “his people.” Mark Michalek, a special agent in the FBI’s Denver office, remarked that the investigation categorizes this incident as an act of terrorism, though the definition remains expansive and may dilute specific ideological motivations.

Authorities have claimed there are no links between Soliman and broader criminal networks; however, the investigation is ongoing. The FBI described the act as ideologically motivated, emphasizing the need for thoroughness in exploring the motivations behind such violence.

Officials from Homeland Security have indicated intentions to increase scrutiny around immigrants who have delayed their visa processes.