Colorado suspect, now charged with federal hate crime, planned antisemitic attack for a year, FBI says

Alisha Ebrahimji Maureen Chowdhury Elise Hammond Aditi Sangal
By Zoe Sottile, Hanna Park, Antoinette Radford, Lauren Mascarenhas, Alisha Ebrahimji, Maureen Chowdhury, Elise Hammond and Aditi Sangal, CNN
Updated 10:38 PM EDT, Mon June 2, 2025
BOULDER, COLORADO - JUNE 01: Police cordon off Pearl Street on June 1, 2025 in Boulder, Colorado. A suspect is in custody after reportedly throwing an incendiary device at a group participating in an organized walk to show solidarity with hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. (Photo by Chet Strange/Getty Images)
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911 calls describe horrifying scenes during Boulder antisemitic attacks
00:47 • Source: CNN
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Here's what we know

• Attack planned for a year: The suspect in Sunday’s attack in Colorado told investigators he “wanted to kill all Zionist people” and had planned the attack for a year, according to an affidavit. If convicted on all 16 counts of attempted murder in the first degree, he could face 384 years in state prison, according to Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty.

• Jewish event targeted: The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, also faces federal hate crime charges. He allegedly used a flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to set people on fire at an event in support of hostages in Gaza. He injured at least 12 people, authorities said today.

• Suspect’s history: Soliman had applied for asylum in the US and was denied a visa to enter the country in 2005, sources told CNN. Soliman is an Egyptian national, according to officials.

• Community outcry: Jewish leaders called for action against attacks on their community in the wake of rising antisemitic violence and threats.

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Our live coverage has ended. Get the latest updates on the investigation into the attack in Boulder, Colorado, here.

Witness said he saw “smoke coming from a human being” when he arrived at Boulder scene just after the attack

From CNN's Shimon Prokupecz, Mark Morales, Jeremy Harlan and Taylor Romine
Aaron Brooks, left, talks with CNN's Shimon Prokupecz about what he witnessed during the attack on Sunday.
Aaron Brooks, left, talks with CNN's Shimon Prokupecz about what he witnessed during the attack on Sunday.
CNN

Aaron Brooks arrived on the scene shortly after the Sunday’s horrific attack in Boulder, Colorado, where he said he saw the appalling aftermath – including “smoke coming from a human being.”

He showed CNN’s Shimon Prokupecz the burnt remains left after the attack at the Pearl Street pedestrian mall, singed grass and black marks spotted around the area.

Before the police arrived, Brooks took video of the suspect in which he is seen yelling at one of the people confronting him.

“I don’t just want to move on,” Brooks said. “I want to make sure that people know clearly this was an antisemitic attack. I was here. I heard what he said. I heard him clearly say ‘You’re burning my people’ or ‘You burnt my people.’”

FBI's Bongino addresses terror investigation after suspect charged with hate crime

From CNN's Zoe Sottile and Holmes Lybrand

On Sunday, hours after the firebombing attack in Colorado, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said the bureau was investigating the incident as an act of terror. FBI director Kash Patel went further, calling it “a targeted terror attack.”

On Monday, however, federal prosecutors charged the alleged assailant, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, with one hate crime charge. He wasn’t charged with any counts related to terrorism.

Bongino wrote in a post on X following the announcement of charges:

Some context: Soliman was charged with a federal hate crime charge as well as 16 state charges, including attempted murder and assault.

Typically, to bring terrorism charges, prosecutors have to prove at trial that someone accused of terrorism is either associated with, or inspired by, designated foreign terrorist organizations.

Court records do not indicate that Soliman has ties to foreign organizations, and he told authorities no one knew about his plans, according to an arrest warrant. But the investigation is ongoing and additional charges could be brought.

And there are no federal charges that prosecutors can use explicitly for acts of domestic terrorism. Instead, prosecutors can ask for an increased prison sentence for domestic terrorism once that suspect is convicted of another crime in the matter.

Suspect in Colorado antisemitic attacks appears in court. Here’s what we learned today

From CNN's Aditi Sangal, Taylor Romine and Zoe Sottile

Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the suspect in yesterday’s antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, made his first court appearance today.

According to authorities, he yelled “Free Palestine!” as he used incendiary devices – including a “makeshift flamethrower” – to set people on fire during a Jewish community event on Sunday.

Here are they key details you need to know:

What happened in court: Soliman made a very short appearance this afternoon on camera from Boulder jail in an orange jumpsuit. He told the judge he had received and understood a court-issued protection order which prohibits him from contacting any of the attack victims. He is scheduled to return to court on Thursday when the state charges will be filed. He did not enter a plea and is being held on a $10 million cash bond.

Federal and state charges: Soliman could face 384 years in state prison if convicted on 16 counts of attempted murder in the first degree, according to the Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty. The sentences for each count would run consecutively.

He’s also facing a federal hate crime charge, which carries the maximum sentence of life in prison, said acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado J. Bishop Grewell today during a news conference alongside state and federal law enforcement officials.

Other details that authorities shared:

  1. The suspect’s family was cooperative when law enforcement executed a search warrant Sunday night. The suspect lived in Colorado Springs with his wife and five children, according to an affidavit for a federal hate crime charge. His wife brought the suspect’s iPhone to Colorado Springs police after he was arrested, according to the affidavit.
  2. While it appears the suspect acted alone in yesterday’s attack, authorities say they are still investigating all possibilities.
  3. A total of 16 unused Molotov cocktails were recovered after the incident.

Details from his arrest warrant:

  • The suspect “planned on dying” in the attack, according to the warrant. Soliman “mentioned several times he wanted to be dead” in interviews with law enforcement. He said he only threw two Molotov cocktails because he “got scared and had never hurt anyone before.” Soliman told law enforcement no one else knew about his plan for the attack, which he’d harbored for a year.
  • Soliman learned how to make Molotov cocktails after he was “denied the purchase of a gun due to him not being a legal citizen.” He had previously taken a concealed-carry class and learned to shoot a gun.
  • Soliman was born in Egypt but lived in Kuwait for 17 years, according to the warrant. He moved to Colorado Springs three years ago. He was in the US illegally, according to the DHS.

The victims: Authorities said the number of victims has risen to 12 after four additional victims came forward. Two people remain in the hospital, they added.

Schumer says he urged FBI officials to use "the full extent of their power" to investigate Boulder attack

From CNN’s Morgan Rimmer
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks on the Senate floor on Monday
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks on the Senate floor on Monday
Senate TV

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest ranking Jewish elected official in the US, said today that he spoke with senior FBI officials in the wake of Sunday’s attack in Colorado and “urged them to use the full extent of their power to investigate this heinous attack.”

Suspect to return to court Thursday for filing of charges

From CNN's Taylor Romine

Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the suspect accused of injuring at least 12 people yesterday, will be back in state court on Thursday.

The hearing will be at 3:30 p.m. MT (5:30 p.m. ET) and will be for the filing of state charges.

Soliman, who appeared on camera in an orange jumpsuit from Boulder County Jail, didn’t enter a plea during Monday’s hearing.

Suspect says he received and understood court's protection order that prohibits him from contacting victims

From CNN's Aditi Sangal

Judge Nancy Salomone asked the suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, if he received and understood his protection order issued by the court.

“It keeps you from contacting any of the people who are named as the victims in the alleged offense,” she explained to him.

Soliman responded that he did.

NOW: Suspect in Boulder attack makes first court appearance

From CNN staff
Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the man the FBI has identified as the lone suspect in the attack on Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday, June 1, is seen in an image taken from the live stream of his first court appearance on Monday.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the man the FBI has identified as the lone suspect in the attack on Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday, June 1, is seen in an image taken from the live stream of his first court appearance on Monday.
Colorado Judicial Branch

Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the man the FBI has identified as the lone suspect in yesterday’s attack in Boulder, Colorado, is appearing in court now.

Soliman faces federal hate crime and multiple state felony charges. He told investigators he “wanted to kill all Zionist people” and had planned the attack for a year, according to an affidavit filed Sunday.

Soliman allegedly used a flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to set people on fire at an event in support of hostages in Gaza.

Soliman is an Egyptian national, according to law enforcement sources.

FBI said the Colorado attack was an act of terror. Here's why it’s being prosecuted as a hate crime

From CNN's Hannah Rabinowitz and Holmes Lybrand

Yesterday, FBI Director Kash Patel and his deputy, Dan Bongino, posted on social media that the incident in Boulder, Colorado, was being investigated as an act of terror.

But when federal charges came down against the alleged attacker, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, Justice Department prosecutors filed one hate crime charge and no counts related to terrorism.

Here’s what to know: Typically, prosecutors would have to prove at trial that someone accused of terrorism is either associated with, or inspired by, designated foreign terrorist organizations. Without those explicit ties, it is difficult for the Justice Department to bring terrorism charges.

And as for incidents of alleged domestic terrorism, there are no federal charges that prosecutors can use that are explicitly for acts of domestic terrorism. Instead, prosecutors can ask for an increased prison sentence for domestic terrorism once that suspect is convicted of another crime in the matter.

Court records do not indicate that Soliman has ties to foreign organizations. Still, the investigation is ongoing, and additional charges could be brought.

Bringing a hate crime charge, like the department did in this case, comes with its own challenges, as prosecutors must prove that the accused Soliman was motivated to attack the crowd on the basis of things like religion, gender or race.

According to court records, Soliman told investigators he “wanted to kill all Zionist people” and witnesses say as someone was trying to talk Soliman down after the attack, he kept yelling, “f**k you, Zionist” and “you all deserve to die.”

Suspect's family was "cooperative" when FBI executed search warrant

The family of the suspect in Sunday’s firebombing attack was “cooperative” when law enforcement executed a search warrant Sunday night, FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek said at a Monday news conference.

Michalek deferred questions about the family’s legal status to the Department of Homeland Security.

The suspect lived in Colorado Springs with his wife and five children, according to an affidavit for a federal hate crime charge. His wife brought the suspect’s iPhone to Colorado Springs police after he was arrested, according to the affidavit.

Suspect was not on law enforcement's radar in Boulder, police chief says

From CNN's Aditi Sangal

The Colorado attack suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was not on law enforcement’s radar, Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn told reporters at a press briefing.

“We had no prior contacts with him here,” he said.

Police to increase presence at community events, police chief says

From CNN's Taylor Romine
Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn speaks during a press briefing on Monday.
Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn speaks during a press briefing on Monday.
KMGH

The Boulder Police Department will be increase the number of officers at community events in the next seven to 10 days, Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said Monday.

“We want to ensure that people feel comfortable and safe in this community gathering, and remembering what happened, as well as any other planned events that we have,” he said.

2 victims still hospitalized, police chief says

From CNN staff

Two victims of Sunday’s firebombing attack are still hospitalized as of Monday afternoon, according to Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn.

Authorities previously reported that there were 8 victims. They updated the number to 12 after additional victims who sustained “more minor” injuries came forward, Redfearn said Monday.

FBI says investigators are looking into whether others may have supported the suspect

From CNN's Amir Vera
Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek for FBI Denver speaks during a press breifing on Monday.
Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek for FBI Denver speaks during a press breifing on Monday.
KMGH

Mark Michalek, the FBI special agent in charge, said at a news conference today that while it appears the suspect acted alone in yesterday’s attack, they are still investigating all possibilities and pursuing all investigative leads.

“If we uncover evidence that others knew of this attack or supported the subject in this attack, rest assured that we will aggressively move to hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Michalek said.

Michalek added later that the FBI has conducted 44 witness interviews and executed search warrants of vehicles, property and digital devices.

16 unused Molotov cocktails recovered by law enforcement, local district attorney says

From CNN's Taylor Romine

A total of 16 unused Molotov cocktails were recovered after the incident, 20th Judicial District Attorney Michael Dougherty said during a news conference Monday.

Dougherty went on to thank first responders for their quick response, saying “that rapid response with the recovery of the 16 unused Molotov cocktails, I think, speaks for itself.”

CNN previously reported the additional 16 Molotov cocktails were found.

Number of victims increases to 12 after 4 additional victims were identified, district attorney says

From CNN's Aditi Sangal
Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty speaks during a press briefing on Monday.
Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty speaks during a press briefing on Monday.
KMGH

The total number of victims of the attack in Boulder, Colorado, has risen to 12 after law enforcement helped identify four additional victims, District Attorney Michael Dougherty said at a press briefing.

He encouraged any other victims and witnesses to contact law enforcement.

“Later this week, we’ll be filing formal charges reflecting 12 victims against the suspect,” Dougherty said, noting that if more victims come forward, the charges would reflect them too.

Suspect could face at least 384 years in state prison for attempted murder counts

The suspect in Sunday’s attack could face 384 years in state prison if convicted on 16 counts of attempted murder in the first degree, according to Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty.

The sentences for each count would run consecutively, Dougherty said Monday.

Here are the other possible sentences Mohamed Sabry Soliman could face if convicted on the state charges:

  • For 16 counts of attempted murder in the first degree, he would face a maximum of 384 years in state prison
  • For two counts of use of an incendiary device, he would face a maximum sentence of 48 years in state prison
  • For 16 counts of attempted use of an incendiary device, he would face a maximum sentence of 192 years in state prison

Colorado attack suspect could face life in prison — the maximum federal sentence, authorities say

From CNN's Aditi Sangal
Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado J. Bishop Grewell speaks during a press conference on Monday.
Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado J. Bishop Grewell speaks during a press conference on Monday.
KMGH

The Colorado attack suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, is being charged with a commission of a hate crime, said acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado J. Bishop Grewell today.

“That offense includes attempted murder,” he added, noting that if convicted, Soliman would face the maximum federal sentence — life in prison.

NOW: Authorities hold news conference on antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado

From CNN's Aditi Sangal

Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty and acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado J. Bishop Grewell are now holding a news conference focusing on the antisemitic attack in Colorado.

Remember: The suspect in the attack, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, has been charged with a hate crime, according to an affidavit, in addition to local charges.

Suspect "planned on dying" in Boulder attack, warrant says

The suspect “planned on dying” in the firebombing attack in Boulder, Colorado, according to a warrant for his arrest.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman “mentioned several times he wanted to be dead” in interviews with law enforcement, the warrant read.

He said he only threw two Molotov cocktails because he “got scared and had never hurt anyone before,” according to the warrant.

“He said he had to do it, he should do it, and he would not forgive himself if he did not do it,” the warrant read.

Soliman told law enforcement no one else knew about his plan for the attack, which he’d harbored for a year.