Boulder Firebombing Suspect’s Family Detained by Immigration Officials

Federal immigration officers have taken the wife and five children of Mohamed Sabry Soliman—the man accused of firebombing a pro-Israel rally in Boulder—into custody, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed on Tuesday.

Soliman, 45, is facing a slew of serious charges, including attempted murder, assault, possession of an incendiary device, and a federal hate crime. Authorities say he threw Molotov cocktails into a peaceful demonstration calling for the release of Israeli hostages, injuring a dozen people in the process.

A Shocking and Violent Attack

The attack took place during a rally in Boulder, Colorado, and has since shocked the local community and drawn national attention. Witnesses say Soliman shouted “Free Palestine” before launching two petrol bombs into the crowd.

Twelve people—four men and four women ranging in age from 52 to 88—were hospitalized with injuries ranging from minor burns to more serious trauma. Among them was a Holocaust survivor, according to Rabbi Israel Wilhelm, director of the University of Colorado Boulder’s Chabad center.

According to an affidavit, Soliman admitted to planning the attack and said he had been preparing for over a year. He reportedly timed it to occur after his daughter’s high school graduation.

Family Taken into ICE Custody

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Homeland Security said they are investigating whether Soliman’s wife and children had any knowledge of the attack or played any role in supporting it.

The White House also weighed in with a strongly worded post, stating that Soliman—who entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in August 2022 and later filed for asylum—was an “illegal alien,” and that his family is being held in ICE custody for expedited removal.

The post added, in all caps, that deportation could happen “as soon as Tuesday night.”

Details Emerge About the Family

Despite the current scrutiny, some details paint a more nuanced picture of the family’s life in the U.S.

One of Soliman’s daughters was recently awarded a scholarship from a local newspaper in Colorado Springs. In her application essay, she wrote about her growth since moving to the United States, saying, “Coming to the USA has fundamentally changed me… I came to appreciate that family is the unchanging support.”

She had expressed a desire to study medicine and was described in the Gazette as someone with a strong academic and personal story. Born in Egypt and raised in Kuwait, she moved to the U.S. two years ago with her family.

Ironically, the very father she praised in her essay is now at the center of an FBI investigation. According to police documents, Soliman left his phone behind for his family with farewell messages. His wife later turned that phone over to authorities.

What Happens Next

Soliman made a brief court appearance on Monday via video from Boulder County Jail. Wearing an orange jumpsuit, he only spoke to answer procedural questions and is expected back in court on Thursday for a bail hearing and formal filing of charges.

As authorities continue to investigate whether Soliman’s family had prior knowledge of his actions, many questions remain—not only about this case, but about the deeper societal tensions it reflects.