The family of Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old man accused of firebombing an event in support of Israeli hostages in Colorado, was taken into custody Tuesday by U.S. immigration officials, raising eyebrows over the quick deportation threats made against them.
The White House indicated that Soliman’s wife and five children could face deportation as early as the same night, an uncommon move for family members related to someone charged with a crime.
Soliman, disguised as a gardener, allegedly aimed to kill all 20 participants in a recent demonstration in Boulder, Colorado, and was found with 18 Molotov cocktails. However, he only launched two during the protest, shouting “Free Palestine,” according to police reports.
Despite his violent intentions, authorities noted that Soliman refrained from executing his complete plan, stating he felt scared since he had never harmed anyone before. As a result of the two incendiary devices he threw, 12 individuals suffered injuries during the event, which was part of a weekly demonstration at the Pearl Street pedestrian mall.
Authorities also reported that Soliman showed no signs of remorse for his actions.
In court documents, Soliman claimed that neither his family nor anyone else was aware of his plans, and his sentiments were driven by a desire to “kill all Zionist people,” referencing the movement to establish a Jewish state in Israel.
Further investigation revealed that Soliman left behind an iPhone hidden within his home, containing messages directed to his family. Following his arrest, his wife handed over the device to authorities, asserting it belonged to Soliman while also being utilized by other family members.
An overview of Soliman’s immigration status reveals that he was born in el-Motamedia, a village in Egypt’s Nile Delta province of Gharbia. He had a prior stint as a handball player for a club in Cairo, as noted by the club’s former chairman on social media.
Relocating to Colorado Springs three years ago, Soliman had previously spent 17 years in Kuwait. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), he entered the United States on a tourist visa in August 2022, which expired in February 2023.
Despite having filed for asylum in September 2022 and reportedly receiving work authorization in March 2023, that status has since lapsed. The immigration status of his family members remains unclear, as DHS has not responded to requests for further clarification on the matter.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of individuals overstay their visas in the U.S., according to reports from the Homeland Security Department. However, the overstay rate for Egyptians on business or tourist visas is comparatively lower than that of many other nationalities.
In the lead-up to his attack, Soliman alleged that he had planned the assault for a year, waiting until his daughter graduated before executing his violent intentions.
A local newspaper had highlighted one of Soliman’s children earlier this year, detailing their family’s journey from Egypt to Kuwait and subsequent relocation to the United States. While the child faced initial challenges in school, she eventually achieved academic honors, initiated an Arabic club, and volunteered at a hospital—all as steps toward her aspiration of becoming a medical professional.
Currently, Soliman is confronted with serious federal hate crime charges, alongside attempted murder charges at the state level. Authorities have indicated that additional charges could still be forthcoming; he is being held in a county jail with a bond set at $10 million. His attorney, Kathryn Herold, chose not to provide any comments following a state court hearing on Monday.
The incident occurred against the backdrop of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which has heightened global tensions and correlated with an increase in antisemitic violence in the United States. The attack coincided with the Jewish holiday of Shavuot and followed another incident where a man shouting “Free Palestine” was charged with fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staff members outside a Jewish museum in Washington.
As for the victims of Soliman’s attack, they ranged in age from 52 to 88, with varied injuries classified from serious to minor. These victims were part of a volunteer group, known as Run For Their Lives, who were holding their regular demonstration at the time of the assault.
As of Tuesday, three victims remained hospitalized at the UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital. One victim was a child when her family escaped the Nazis during the Holocaust, as revealed by Ginger Delgado, a spokesperson for her family, who requested anonymity.
Witnesses recounted seeing Soliman throw two Molotov cocktails, igniting the second one and unintentionally catching himself on fire. Afterward, he reportedly removed what appeared to be a bulletproof vest and his shirt before law enforcement apprehended him.
During his interrogation, Soliman claimed to have gasoline stored in a backpack sprayer but indicated he refrained from using it on anyone, instead stating that he “had planned on dying.”
Moreover, Soliman mentioned that he had enrolled in a concealed carry class and attempted to purchase a firearm but was denied due to his non-citizen status.
He made this purchase attempt about seven months before the incident at a location in Colorado Springs, undergoing a background check that resulted in his denial. A month later, his attempt to obtain a concealed carry permit was also rejected. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation stated that they could not provide specific reasons for denials but acknowledged that if Soliman’s immigration status was a factor, it would have notified ICE accordingly.
Authorities remain firm that Soliman acted alone during this attack, although they have disclosed few details regarding the nature of his self-inflicted injuries, aside from revealing a booking photo depicting him with a bandage on one ear.
This incident highlights the complexities and implications of immigration laws in cases involving violent crime, illustrating how a sensational act can entangle not only the suspect but also their families in legal ramifications.
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