Boulder terror attack latest: Wife and five children of suspect arrested by ICE and set for deportation

Sunday’s fire attack in Colorado against a group of activists raising awareness of hostages in Hamas custody follows a string of violent incidents in recent weeks.

They bear some similarities, with victims who were Jewish and alleged attackers who claimed affiliation with the Palestinian cause.

Last month, a couple working at the Israeli embassy in Washington were killed by a gunman while leaving an event at a Jewish museum.

Chicago man Elias Rodriguez, 30, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder over their killings.

Rodriguez chanted “free, free Palestine,” according to police, after reportedly shooting at the couple at least 21 times.

In April, Pennsylvania man Cody Balmer allegedly set fire to the residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, among the highest-profile Jewish officials in the country, telling a 911 operator just before the arson that he would “not take part in [Shapiro’s] plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people,” according to a search warrant.

There were more than 9,300 antisemitic incidents across the U.S. in 2024, according to data released by the Anti-Defamation League, the highest level ever recorded by the civil rights organization.

Neighbors say they are stunned that Colorado Springs man Mohamed Soliman is accused of attacking a group of Jewish activists with Molotov cocktails and a homemade incendiary device over the weekend.

“There was never any aggression or signs of it,” one neighbor told The Colorado Springs Gazette.

Another, Craig Martinez, told Colorado Public Radio that Soliman and his family appeared typical.

"The kids were outside, especially during the summer months. Their front door would be wide open and they were kind of just hanging out," Martinez said. "I feel terrible for everybody involved. I feel terrible for the people attacked. I feel terrible for the family. I feel for everybody.

A young woman whose biographical details suggest she is the daughter of Colorado attack suspect Mohamed Soliman was recently profiled in the Colorado Springs Gazette, where she described her family’s journey to America, including her father’s past history.

In an interview, she said that when she was young, her father had gotten a difficult surgery that restored his ability to walk, a change she considered like “magic.”

Little else is known about Soliman’s background, other than that he came to the U.S. in 2022 and worked as an Uber driver.

Our live coverage of the Colorado terror attack has ended.

Here’s a full breakdown of what we know so far.

While lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle condemned Sunday’s heinous attack, Colorado Republicans are calling for immigration reform after Homeland Security announced the defendant had overstayed his visit.

“While Republicans take action to secure our communities, sanctuary states like Colorado enforce sanctuary policies that tie the hands of law enforcement,” Representative Gabe Evans tweeted Monday. “The Left would rather protect illegal immigrants than their own citizens — and innocent Americans are paying the price.”

State Representative Ron Weinberg added: “An individual like this who was present in the United States and has been planning this attack from upwards of a year, we probably could have stopped this if we didn’t have the limitations on the sanctuary state that we have here in Colorado.”

A peaceful demonstration on Sunday raising awareness for Israeli hostages took a harrowing turn after a man allegedly used Molotov cocktails to set marchers ablaze.

Police in Boulder, Colorado, have arrested Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, in connection with the attack. The FBI called the attack a "targeted act of violence” and is investigating it as an act of terrorism.

The man allegedly shouted “Free Palestine!” as he used a “makeshift flame thrower” and threw an “incendiary device” into the crowd, the FBI said.

Some 16 unused Molotov cocktails were found at the scene. Twelve people were injured in the attack, with one in critical condition. The victims have not been publicly identified.

Kelly Rissman, Rachel Clun and Josh Marcus have detailed what we know about the alleged attacker:

Mohamed Soliman, 45, faces both federal and state charges in connection with Sunday’s fiery attack on Demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado.

Participated in a brief court hearing Monday afternoon via video from the Boulder County jail, Soliman was charged federally with the commission of a hate crime, which carries a life sentence in prison.

He also faces Colorado state charges, which include 16 counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of using an incendiary device and 16 counts of attempted use of an incendiary device. A judge set a $10 million cash-only bond on the state charges.

Additional charges are possible in federal court. The Justice Department plans to seek a grand jury indictment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Boulder attack suspect accused of wounding a dozen people holding their weekly demonstration for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza appeared to have second thoughts, according to authorities.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman had 18 Molotov cocktails but threw just two during Sunday's attack near Pearl Street Mall in which he yelled “Free Palestine,” police said. He didn’t carry out his full plan “because he got scared and had never hurt anyone before,” police wrote in an affidavit, according to the Associated Press.

The two incendiary devices the suspect threw into the group of approximately 20 people wounded more than half of them, and authorities said he expressed no regrets about the attack.