The family of Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the man accused of launching a violent antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, has been taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as announced by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on Tuesday. This development comes amid an ongoing investigation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to determine the extent of the family's knowledge and involvement in the attack that injured at least 12 protesters.
On Sunday, Soliman, 45, allegedly used a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails against a group of peaceful protesters advocating for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. The violent incident resulted in injuries to at least 12 individuals, with eight protesters, aged between 52 and 88, requiring hospitalization due to burns sustained during the attack.
Secretary Noem characterized Soliman as a terrorist and illegal alien, pledging that he will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. "I am continuing to pray for the victims of this attack and their families. Justice will be served," she stated on X, previously known as Twitter. Soliman, an Egyptian national, entered the United States on a B2 visa issued for tourists in August 2022 and subsequently filed for asylum in September of the same year. Although his visa expired in February 2023, he had not exhausted all legal avenues to remain in the U.S.
Following the attack, Soliman has been charged in Colorado with multiple serious offenses, including attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, and possession of an incendiary device. He is currently being held on a substantial bond of $10 million. Additionally, he faced federal hate crime charges on Monday, underscoring the severe nature of his alleged actions.
During a news conference on Monday, acting U.S. Attorney for the district of Colorado, J. Bishop Grewell, revealed that Soliman had been planning this attack for a year and expressed his disdain for what he referred to as “the Zionist group.” Grewell noted, “He had no regrets, and he would go back and do it again,” highlighting the alarming motivations behind Soliman's actions.
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on understanding the full scope of the incident and ensuring that justice is served for the victims and their families affected by this horrific act.
