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.

Source: BBC – Family of Boulder suspect detained by immigration officers

The post Family of Boulder Firebombing Suspect Detained by Immigration Officials appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

For a year, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, quietly planned a violent act fueled by hatred—one he would ultimately unleash on a peaceful Jewish demonstration in downtown Boulder, Colorado. What started as a quiet life in the U.S. with a wife and five children ended in flames, violence, and a federal hate crime charge.

A Carefully Planned Attack

On Sunday, Soliman brought a homemade flamethrower, Molotov cocktails, and a backpack filled with gasoline to a peaceful rally calling for the release of hostages from Gaza. According to federal documents, Soliman attacked the demonstrators while shouting “Free Palestine” and “End Zionists!” The FBI says 12 people were injured, some suffering severe burns.

Authorities say Soliman admitted he had intended to kill “all Zionist people,” calling it a mission he postponed only to see his daughter graduate high school.

What Led Up to the Violence

Soliman’s anger had reportedly been simmering for years, driven by strong anti-Zionist and anti-Israel beliefs. His digital footprint shows support for the Muslim Brotherhood and former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, who was ousted in a 2013 military coup. Posts on a Facebook account matching his name included symbolic imagery supporting protests at Rabaa al-Adawiya Square, where Egyptian forces brutally cracked down on Morsi supporters.

He told federal agents that he learned to build Molotov cocktails by watching YouTube tutorials and took a concealed-carry course, but couldn’t legally purchase a firearm due to his immigration status.

A Father With a Double Life

In stark contrast to the violence he planned, Soliman was also known as a father and former accountant. He lived in Colorado Springs with his family and had brief stints as an employee at Veros Health and as an Uber driver. Neighbors say they occasionally saw his children playing outside, and one described his wife as friendly.

His daughter, believed to be the student profiled in a Colorado Springs Gazette article, earned a scholarship to pursue medical school. In her essay, she described her father undergoing a life-changing surgery that restored his ability to walk—an event that inspired her medical dreams.

“Coming to the USA has fundamentally changed me,” she wrote. “Most importantly, I came to appreciate that family is the unchanging support.”

From Immigration Hopes to Federal Charges

Soliman first attempted to enter the U.S. in 2005 but was denied a visa. He successfully entered in August 2022 as a non-immigrant visitor and later received a two-year work permit, which expired this past March.

Before the attack, Soliman left behind a hidden iPhone with messages to his family and a journal. On the day of the assault, he disguised himself in a utility vest and bought flowers from Home Depot—possibly to avoid suspicion.

Witnesses initially mistook him for a gardener.

He attacked the demonstrators with the flamethrower and tried to use Molotov cocktails, according to authorities. Police later found at least 14 unlit firebombs in a nearby container. Bystanders captured video of Soliman shirtless, yelling, and pacing, just before his arrest.

Law Enforcement: No Prior Red Flags

Despite the violent nature of the attack, Soliman wasn’t previously on law enforcement’s radar. His only known interactions with Colorado police involved a few minor traffic infractions and non-criminal calls to his residence.

He has no criminal history in the state.

Hate Crime Charges and Community Reaction

Soliman now faces both federal hate crime charges and state charges of attempted murder. According to court documents, he admitted he targeted the group because he “hated the Zionist group” and believed they were “taking over our land,” referring to Palestine.

The Islamic Center of Boulder publicly condemned the attack, calling it “targeted violence.” Meanwhile, Jewish leaders are renewing calls for increased vigilance in the face of rising antisemitic threats.

This attack comes just weeks after a gunman killed two staff members at the Israeli Embassy—another incident where the attacker reportedly shouted “Free Palestine!”

Source: CNN – What we know about Colorado suspect’s life leading up to antisemitic attack

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