Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, was charged with one count of a federal hate crime for the June 1 attack in Boulder, in addition to 118 criminal charges at the state level. On Wednesday, June 18, a judge ruled there is probable cause to proceed with the federal case, after more than two hours of debate about Soliman's motivation for allegedly carrying out the fiery assault.
State leaders have called the attack anti-Semitic, but prosecutors did not argue that Soliman was motivated by the victims’ religion. Instead, they claimed the victims were targeted because of their perceived national origin, referring to Israel. Defense attorneys argued the assault was based on the victims' political views, which are not protected under hate crime laws.
"One could argue that by virtue of having animosity for people who support the existence of the Israeli state, that then brings this matter under the element of national origin," Magistrate Judge Kathryn Starnella said while issuing her ruling. "Now, ultimately, it's for a jury to decide."
Soliman seemed to be in high spirits on Wednesday, smiling while speaking to his attorneys and giggling as they removed his headphones to ask him a question, which he used to translate the proceedings into Arabic. He spent most of the hearing staring toward the back wall of the courtroom, turning his head away from the dozens of attorneys, reporters and onlookers in the room.
He sat quietly, shackled with his right wrist and hand bandaged, wearing a black T-shirt and khaki-colored pants. The bandage seen on his right ear during his last court appearance was gone, revealing burns on his ear. At one point, Soliman turned his head to listen with his left ear when his attorneys spoke to him; while he kept his right ear toward the room during most of the proceedings.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45 of Colorado Springs.
Boulder Police Department
Soliman is accused of throwing two homemade Molotov cocktails at the group of demonstrators during their weekly walk on Boulder's Pearl Street, advocating for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. Soliman allegedly yelled "Free Palestine" during the ambush and later told police that he wanted to kill them as "revenge" against Zionists for the Israeli-Palestinian war, according to arrest affidavits.
Fifteen people and one dog were caught in the attack, authorities say. One victim sustained burns to 60 percent of her body, FBI Special Agent Timothy Chan testified on Wednesday. Multiple victims remain hospitalized as of Wednesday. The victims range from 25 to 88 years old, including 88-year-old Holocaust survivor Barbara Steinmetz.
In interviews with police, Soliman reportedly admitted to planning the attack for over a year. He searched for local Zionist groups online and found the weekly Run for Their Lives event held in Boulder, the affidavits say.
Soliman's attorney, public defender David Kraut, argued that the attack was politically motivated since Soliman specified that he was seeking out Zionists, not Israelis or Jews. In interviews with police, Soliman defined Zionists as anyone who supports the existence of Israel on "his land," referring to Palestine.
"He defines Zionism according to political opinion, not national origin," Kraut said. "He did not do an internet search for an Israeli event, he did an internet search for a Zionist event. ...The law is very clear: Political views are not listed in statute as a protected [bias category]."
Prosecutors revealed a new detail of the incident on Wednesday: During the assault, Soliman allegedly wore a shirt with "1187" written on it in marker. FBI Agent Chan testified that investigators found a handwritten document in Soliman's car, explaining that 1187 referred to the year "when Muslims returned and liberated Jerusalem after 88 years of oppression and persecution." Jerusalem has been under the control of Israel since 1967.
"[Soliman] is using the term 'Zionist,' but he's using a lot of other terms to show us that he defines his animosity towards the current occupiers of land that we all know to be Israel," prosecuting attorney Melissa Hindman said. "He was targeting a group based on his perception of people's national origin because his enemy is the occupiers of a land."
Judge Starnella mentioned the 1187 revelation as evidence of probable cause for the hate crime charge while issuing her ruling.
Soliman allegedly prepared eighteen Molotov cocktails and a backpack weed-sprayer filled with gasoline to attack the peaceful group. He carried flowers and wore an orange vest to appear like a gardener as he approached, before reportedly hurling two flaming bottles at the victims. He inadvertently set himself on fire when he threw the second bottle, Chan said.
Soliman is an Egyptian national who works as an Uber driver and lives in Colorado Springs with his wife and five children. He came to the United States in late 2022 on a tourist visa. He later requested asylum and remained in the country after his visa expired in February 2023. His family was detained by ICE following Soliman's arrest, though a district judge has blocked their deportation.
In a statement released on June 18, Soliman's wife Hayam El Gamal said she and her children are "in total shock over what they say my husband did."
"So many lives were ruined on that day," El Gamal said. "There is never an excuse for hurting innocent people. We have been cooperating with the authorities, who are trying their best to get to the bottom of this. We send our love to the many families who are suffering as a result of the attack."
The federal hate crime charge carries a potential life sentence if Soliman is convicted. He also faces lengthy sentences for the 118 state charges, including up to 48 years in prison for each of the 28 counts of attempted murder.
Soliman is due back in federal court on June 27. His next court appearance for the state charges is on July 15.
