US State of Columbia: 8 injured suspects are said to be planning for one year

Reports from the American Chinese website A violent attack occurred on Boulder, Colorado, just past Sunday. During a peaceful march supporting Israeli hostages, a man used a “temporary flamethrower” and threw a mooring bottle at the crowd at the scene, injuring at least eight people, one of whom was in critical condition.

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The FBI confirmed that the incident is being investigated as a terrorism case.

Boulder City Police Department

FBI Colorado head Mike Michalek said at a press conference that night that the suspect was identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45.Several witnesses said Soliman shouted “liberate Palestine” and “end Zionism” in the attack.

Soliman is now charged with one federal hate crime, according to a federal criminal indictment released on Monday.

The FBI said Soliman confessed to the crime involved after being detained and told police that he would commit it again. It is said thatSoliman told police he planned for this for a year and specifically targeted what he called a “Zionist organization.”

Colorado filed 16 counts of first-degree murder (including 8 counts of premeditated murder and 8 counts of extreme disregard for life) against Soliman later that day, plus first-degree injury and possession of a burning device.

In Colorado, murder charges do not require the death of the victim. The District Prosecutor’s Office requested $10 million in cash bail, according to an affidavit of an arrest warrant.

Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs of the Department of Homeland Security, revealed on Monday thatSoliman entered the United States with a B2 tourist visa in August 2022 and applied for asylum in September 2022, and his B2 visa expired in February 2023.

A senior official told ABC News,Soliman obtained a work permit after his B2 visa expired, but his work permit expired on March 28, so he has been living in the United States illegally since then.It is understood that he recently lived in Colorado Springs.

President Trump responded to the incident on Monday, writing on his social platform Truth Social: “The horrible attacks in Boulder, Colorado yesterday will not be tolerated in the United States of America.”

Trump criticizes former President Biden’s “open border” policy for thisand noted: “Terrorism will be prosecuted to the maximum extent of the law. This is another example of why we must keep our borders safe and expel illegal anti-American activists from our territory. My heart is with the victims of this terrible tragedy and the outstanding people of Boulder, Colorado!”

And Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X: “In view of yesterday’s terrorist attacks, all visa-holding terrorists, their families and terrorist sympathizers should know that under the Trump administration, we will find you, revoke your visa and deport you.”

The incident occurred at 1:26 p.m. on Sunday at an open-air shopping district in Pearl Street, central Boulder, when about 30 people were participating in a peaceful march supporting the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas. After the incident, the police immediately blocked three blocks of Pearl Street and found a suspicious vehicle at the scene, which was later confirmed to be the suspect.

In the evening, the police lifted the lockdown. FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino held a briefing on the spot, characterizing the attack as an “act of terrorism.”

The police said that the victims included 4 women and 4 men, aged between 52 and 88. One of the injured was seriously injured and police said his life was in danger.

“This is not a protest, but a peaceful walk, expressing solidarity with the hostages and their families and calling for their release,” said Run for Their Lives, who organized the march.

Ed Victor, one of the participants in the event, said that since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, the group has held similar parades every week, walking along the streets, singing, telling stories and reading the names of the hostages. “We sometimes encounter questioners, but we never respond, we just keep moving forward peacefully,” he said. “I never thought anyone would do anything to us.”

The violent attack sparked widespread condemnation. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a statement that the victims were “attacked just because they were Jews” and called on the U.S. authorities to severely punish “cold-blooded perpetrators” according to law.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis also issued a statement condemning: “This is an outrageous and obviously targeted attack, specifically targeting the Jewish community.” He is also a Jewish person.

Currently, the case is under investigation by the FBI. Further information about the suspect’s background, motivation and whether it is related to overseas organizations has not been released.

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