(NewsNation) — Police have identified Mohamed Soliman as the suspect in an attack at an event advocating for the release of Israeli hostages in Boulder, Colorado.
At least eight people were injured after an incendiary device was thrown into the crowd. No fatalities have been confirmed.
What happened during the Boulder attack?
There are reports that the suspect yelled “Free Palestine” as he threw the device into the crowd.
The suspect then went behind some bushes and reemerged with a Molotov cocktail but caught his own shirt on fire, The Associated Press reported. He removed what appeared to be a bulletproof vest and the shirt and was arrested by police.
A black plastic container found near where Soliman was arrested had at least 14 Molotov cocktails inside. A backpack weed sprayer nearby contained 87 octane gasoline.
Inside Soliman’s Toyota Prius, authorities say they found material similar to rags inside the black container, a red gas container and paperwork with the words “Israel” and “Palestine.”
Soliman allegedly told police that he researched how to make Molotov cocktails on YouTube.
Who is Mohamed Soliman?
Soliman, 45, is believed to have acted alone and does not appear to have any connection to organized terror groups or prior contact with law enforcement. He is originally from Egypt.
According to court documents, Soliman lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is married with five children. He stated he planned the attack for a year and had waited to act until after his daughter graduated.
Why did Mohamed Soliman attack?
According to court filings, Soliman said he wanted to kill all Zionist people and that he would conduct the attack again.
He said he found the group in Boulder through an online search and specifically targeted them
Soliman told authorities he needed to commit the attack to stop Zionists from taking over “our land,” which referred to Palestine, the court documents show.
Was Mohamed Soliman in the country illegally?
Soliman entered the country legally on a tourist visa. He applied for asylum in September 2022, but his case was denied.
His tourist visa expired in February 2023. He was granted a work permit that was valid through March of this year.
His request for a new work permit was pending.
What is Mohamed Soliman being charged with?
Soliman is being charged with eight felony counts, including first-degree murder, though authorities have not announced any fatalities so far.
Filing of charges will be Thursday at 3:30 p.m. MT.