Colorado fire-bomb suspect’s family being held for deportation
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Colorado fire-bomb suspect’s family being held for deportation
Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, is charged with attempted murder, assault and a federal hate crime. He is accused of throwing two Molotov cocktails at a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado. Soliman’s family has been taken into federal custody and could be swiftly deported, US officials say. The White House, in a social media post, said the family was in ICE’s custody for “expedited removal”, adding they “could be deported as early as tonight” Mr Soliman told investigators he wanted to “kill all Zionist people” but had delayed the attack until after his daughter graduated from high school.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a social media post that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had taken Mohamed Sabry Soliman’s family into custody.
Federal officials have said Mr Soliman, who lived in Colorado Springs with his wife and five children, was in the US illegally, having overstayed a tourist visa and an expired work permit.
A shirtless man US authorities say Mohamed Sabry Soliman was quickly taken into custody at Boulder’s Pearl Street pedestrian precinct. (Reuters: X/ @OpusObscuraX)
Ms Noem said federal agents were also investigating “to what extent” his family knew about the attack, and if they provided any support.
ICE did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for more details about the detention of Mr Soliman’s family.
According to local media reports, the family members include two teenagers and three younger children.
Police officers check on people following the Colorado attack. (AP: David Zalubowski)
‘Could be deported as early as tonight’
FBI and police officials said on Monday that the family had cooperated with investigators, adding Mr Soliman said he acted alone.
The White House, in a social media post, said Mr Soliman’s family was in ICE’s custody for “expedited removal”, adding they “could be deported as early as tonight”.
Department of Homeland Security officials said Mr Soliman entered the US in August 2022 on a tourist visa, filed for asylum the following month, then remained in the country after his visa expired in February 2023.
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The Sunday attack in Boulder, Colorado, injured a dozen people, many of them elderly.
It targeted people at an event organised by Run for Their Lives, an organisation devoted to drawing attention to the hostages seized during Hamas’s 2023 terror attack on Israel.
An affidavit said the suspect threw two lit Molotov cocktails at individuals participating in the pro-Israel gathering, yelling, “Free Palestine” as they ignited in the crowd.
Mr Soliman, 45, told investigators he wanted to “kill all Zionist people” but had delayed the attack until after his daughter graduated from high school.
Boulder locals placed floral tributes to the victims at the scene of the attack. (AP: David Zalubowski)
He has been charged with attempted murder, assault and a federal hate crime.
Police and FBI affidavits quoted Mr Soliman as saying he took firearms training to obtain a concealed-carry permit but ended up using Molotov cocktails because his non-citizen status blocked him from buying guns.
Mr Soliman told investigators he had learned how to make the firebombs from YouTube.
Federal and local authorities have said Mr Soliman had done nothing to draw law enforcement attention prior to Sunday’s attack.
Reuters