The man accused of firebombing a group of peaceful demonstrators seeking to raise awareness about Israeli hostages still held by Hamas made his first appearance in federal court Friday where he was advised of the hate crime charge against him — and the possible penalties that he faces.
Mohamed Soliman, the right side of his face burned, was shackled as he appeared in federal court in Denver. He wore olive-green jail clothing and was given a headset used to translate the proceedings into Arabic. A U.S. marshal was seated with him.
The 45-year-old seemed to be relaxed as Magistrate Judge Timothy P. O’Hara discussed the federal case against him with prosecutors and Soliman’s public defenders. Soliman faces life in prison if convicted.
Soliman repeatedly answered O’Hara’s questions with a soft “yes” and nodded his head.
“I understand,” he said in Arabic, as translated by a court interpreter, when asked if he understood the charges against him and possible penalties.
Fifteen people, including a Holocaust survivor, and a dog were injured in the attack Sunday on a group called Run for Their Lives, which had gathered in downtown Boulder in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza. Run for Their Lives has been walking peacefully each week on the Pearl Street Mall for nearly two years to raise awareness of the hostages kidnapped during Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Some of the victims Sunday suffered second- and third-degree burns. Authorities, however, have said everyone injured in the attack is expected to survive.
Victims in the attack ranged in age from 25 to 88, three of whom remained in the hospital Thursday.
Authorities say Soliman, disguised as a gardener to get close to his intended victims, yelled “free Palestine” as he lobbed Molotov cocktails into the group of demonstrators. He confessed to the crime, which he told investigators he had been planning for a year, when questioned by authorities, according to arrest documents, and said he would do it again if given the chance.
From left, Counsul General to Israel for Pacific Southwest Israel Bachar converses with Boulder City Mayor Aaron Brockett as Karen Smith sits by a memorial for victims Wednesday in front of the Boulder County Courthouse. (Jeremy Sparig, Special to The Colorado Sun)The hearing Friday came a day after Soliman was charged with 118 counts in state court, including 28 counts of attempted first-degree murder and nine counts of first-degree assault. If convicted of the state allegations alone, Soliman could be sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison.
Soliman’s next appearance in Boulder court is scheduled for July 15. He is being held at the Boulder County jail in lieu of a $10 million bond.
The state and federal cases are being simultaneously prosecuted against Soliman.
Soliman told authorities he initially tried to purchase a gun to carry out the attack, even going so far as to learn how to shoot a gun and take a concealed carry course. But his purchase was denied because he is living in the U.S. illegally.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation said his background check was denied as he tried to buy a handgun at a Scheels sporting goods store in Colorado Springs in November. CBI says Soliman didn’t appeal.
The Colorado legislature passed a bill requiring background checks for all gun purchases in 2013.
CBI also said Soliman was denied a concealed handgun permit through the CBI and El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in December.
“While the CBI can’t say directly why an individual’s application might be denied, the CBI can acknowledge applications can be denied based on someone’s immigration status,” the agency said in a statement.
The CBI said it notifies federal immigration officials when a background check is denied because of someone’s immigration status.
Before moving to Colorado Springs three years ago, Soliman spent 17 years in Kuwait, according to court documents.
Soliman came to the U.S. in August 2022 on a B-2 visa that expired in February 2023, Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement. B-2 visas are used by people entering the U.S. temporarily for things like vacations or to get medical care.
She said Soliman filed for asylum in September 2022 and was granted a work authorization in March 2023, but that also expired.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
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