Latest news with #terrorattack
CBS News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Boulder terror attack suspect appears in federal court; judge finds probable cause to move forward with hate crime charge
The man charged with committing a terror attack in Boulder appeared in federal court in Denver on Wednesday. Mohamed Soliman is facing dozens of state and federal charges, including a hate crime charge. The judge found probable cause to move forward with that federal hate crime charge. Investigators say Soliman, 45, threw Molotov cocktails at a group of people marching in support of Israeli hostages on the Pearl Street Mall on June 1. Several people were hospitalized with severe burns. Authorities consider 15 people and a dog victims of the attack. Soliman will be back in state court for a hearing next month. Soliman allegedly planned the attack for a year and was driven by a desire "to kill all Zionist people." His defense attorney, David Kraut, urged Magistrate Judge Kathryn Starnella not to allow the case to move forward. Kraut said Soliman's anti-Zionist statements and his online search for a "Zionist" event to attack showed he targeted the demonstrators because of their perceived political views -- their assumed support for the nation of Israel and the political movement of Zionism. An attack motivated by someone's political views is not considered a hate crime under federal law. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Hindman said the government alleged that the attack was a hate crime because Soliman targeted people based on their national origin -- their perceived connection to Israel. Prosecutors are not alleging that Soliman targeted demonstrators, who carried Israeli and American flags, because he believed they were Jewish, noting that he has said that not all Jewish people are Zionists. Starnella acknowledged that some of the evidence undercut the government's allegation that the demonstrators were targeted because of their perceived national origin but said other evidence supported it. At this stage, the government gets the benefit of the doubt on questions about evidence, she said. Investigators say Soliman told them he had intended to kill the roughly 20 participants at the weekly demonstration, but he threw just two of his over two dozen Molotov cocktails while yelling "Free Palestine." Soliman told investigators he tried to buy a gun but was not able to because he was not a "legal citizen." Mohamed Soliman in federal court earlier this month Robyn Cochran-Ragland Federal authorities say Soliman, an Egyptian national, has been living in the U.S. illegally with his family. During his Wednesday appearance, Soliman's lower right arm and hand were wrapped in a thick bandage, with handcuffs around his wrists. Police previously said he was taken to a hospital for unspecified injuries right after the attack. FBI agent Timothy Chan testified at Wednesday's hearing that Soliman burned himself as he threw the second Molotov cocktail. Soliman did not carry out his full plan "because he got scared and had never hurt anyone before," police wrote in an arrest affidavit. Soliman is charged separately in state court with multiple counts of attempted murder, assault and offenses related to more than a dozen additional Molotov cocktails police say he did not use. Run for Their Lives, the group targeted in the attack, started in October 2023 after Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip stormed into Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 others hostage. Federal authorities are seeking to deport Soliman's wife and their five children. They range in age from 4 to 18 years old and are being held in an immigration center in Texas, according to court documents. The White House said in a June 3 social media post that one-way tickets had been purchased for the family members, adding: "Final boarding call coming soon." A Colorado federal judge temporarily blocked their deportation with a restraining order on June 4. The case has since been transferred to Texas, where a federal judge on Wednesday extended the restraining order another two weeks. Lawyers for the family had asked to keep the order in place, even though government lawyers said in court documents that the family would be deported under the normal process, not an expedited one because the lawyers did not address the earlier comments from the White House.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Boulder terror suspect used Israeli flags to hunt victims, FBI testimony reveals
Federal authorities at a preliminary hearing Wednesday afternoon testified the accused Boulder, Colorado Molotov bomber, illegal Egyptian national Mohamed Sabry Soliman, used Israeli flags to target victims and had the Muslim liberation year "1187" written on clothing items in his car. Soliman, 45, is charged with multiple counts of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, possession of incendiary devices, and more than a dozen counts of attempted use of an incendiary device in connection to the June 1 terror attack that injured 12 people. He is also facing federal charges for allegedly committing a hate crime involving actual or perceived race, religion or national origin. During the hearing in a Denver federal courtroom, government attorney Melissa Hindman argued there is evidence to support the hate crime charge, specifically for targeting national origin. "He explained that Zionism and Zionists were the people occupying Palestine and, more specifically, Israel and Jerusalem," Hindman said. "He defines his enemy and his target as Zionists." Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agent Timothy Chan, who interviewed Soliman, took the stand and testified Soliman's targets on June 1 were those he considered Zionists, and "he intended to kill Zionists." Investigators allegedly found 1187 on clothing and other items in Soliman's car, which Chan said was the year Israel was liberated by the Muslims. When asked why Soliman targeted the group Run for Their Lives, Chan told the court Soliman made an internet search specifically for "Zionists events" in Boulder and "that's how he found them." Following the attack, Soliman allegedly told investigators he used Israeli flags to identify those he considered Zionists. Soliman's attorney, David Kraut, pointed out his client made statements to Chan differentiating between Zionists and Jews, also noting the 1187 number could refer to other significant dates. Magistrate Judge Kathryn Starnella said the case raises a legal question of how the term Zionism can be defined, questioning if it is a political movement or type of national origin. Hindman acknowledged the issue was "complicated." "The defendant isn't using the term Israel," Hindman argued. "In all of his words, what he is showing is he is targeting Israelis and anyone who supports the existence of Israel on that land." Kraut argued Soliman's definition of Zionism "hinges on political views." "National origin of the victims in this case did not matter," Kraut said, before telling the judge the hate crime statute didn't apply. Hindman argued there was written evidence that Soliman believed Zionists are the occupiers of Jerusalem, and the occupier of Jerusalem is the nation of Israel. During testimony, Soliman, who was wearing a brown crew-neck t-shirt and an interpreter's headset, slightly rocked in his seat and looked around the courtroom. While there were no cameras in the courtroom, a Fox News reporter noted he had a cast on his right hand. After a brief recess, Judge Starnella said while there is debate around the second element of the statute—which is whether Soliman was motivated by national origin and how that is defined—she found probable cause for the case to move forward. Starnella told Soliman's attorneys she "understands that there is evidence that cuts against the national origin theory," but said it is up to a jury to decide. The court will reconvene June 27 for an arraignment and detention hearing. Soliman has not yet been indicted.
The Sun
5 days ago
- The Sun
Teen lag hurls boiling water at prison guard in suspected terror attack ‘inspired by Southport monster Axel Rudakubana'
A LAG hurled scalding water at a guard in a suspected terror attack inspired by Axel Rudakubana, it is believed. The Islamist teenager boiled water in his in-cell kettle and mixed it with sugar before throwing it at the officer as he delivered breakfast. 2 2 Triple child killer Rudakubana, 18, chucked kettle-boiled water at a guard at London's high-security HMP Belmarsh in May, as revealed by The Sun. The latest incident, on Saturday at Wetherby Young Offender Institution in West Yorkshire, saw the guard treated in hospital. A colleague also suffered minor injuries. A source said: 'Why on earth did this high-risk prisoner have a kettle in his cell? 'They may as well have given him a gun or a knife. 'Everyone believes it was a copycat of what Rudakubana did as the method is the same and, in a warped way, would have been inspired by him. 'Tests have shown the water was mixed with sugar — so the evil little scrote was trying to cause maximum damage.' Counter Terrorism Policing North East said it was investigating the incident. The Youth Custody Service confirmed two staff members were hurt, one of them receiving treatment in hospital.
Fox News
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
NY lawmaker lambastes failed commemoration of Oct 7 attack, as Dem leadership accused of 'antisemitism'
The New York assemblyman behind an effort to formally commemorate the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack in Israel lambasted leadership for tanking what was supposed to be a "poignant" bill remembering the tragedy. Assemblyman Lester Chang, R-Brooklyn – one of the few GOP members from New York City in the 103-47 Democratic-majority chamber – said he had been working on a resolution for New York state to officially remember the terror attack since hostage negotiations began a year ago. "I'm a Navy veteran of 24 years and I did a tour in Afghanistan. So I understand what war is all about," said Chang. "I've seen atrocities out there." Once American figures like then-candidate Donald Trump began helping hostage negotiations, Chang said he directed his staff to craft a message – which he said took more than a month of back-and-forth to make sure it was "balanced" and did not have a partisan streak. "We submitted it in January, as a resolution, and it was rejected… because [leadership] said it was 'controversial,'" Chang said. "We were astounded but not surprised. So we converted it to a bill," he said, adding that, in the end, a bill would be better because a resolution only commemorates an event for that year, while a bill would codify the remembrance for eternity. With a handful of Democratic co-sponsors, Chang and colleagues believed they had the right balance to attempt to put it up for a vote, but as the New York Post reported, it was reportedly ultimately blocked by House Speaker Carl Heastie, D-Bronx, and other top Democrats. Chang said the bill, destined for the smaller governmental operations committee, was redirected to the larger Ways and Means committee, and that four members were "switched out." The top Republican on that panel, Assemblyman Ed Ra, told the New York Post that remembering Oct. 7 and/or combating antisemitism should never be "political." Republican Assemblyman Ari Brown, who, like Ra, represents Long Island, accused Albany Democrats of "veiled antisemitism," telling the Post the legislature is "rotten" with it. The assembly also tanked a resolution from Brown that complimented Chang's bill. Compounding that was, as Chang described, no GOP bills have been successfully put through the process at all this session. "Having me as a Republican [sponsor] – that would [procedurally] choke them – not because of me, the person, but as a member of that party." Chang said he would just as soon "give this bill to a Democrat" to sponsor if it meant commemorating the Oct. 7 attack. He added that, as a person of Chinese ancestry who represents largely Asian and Italian Bensonhurst, he has no religious horse in the race. "That should make it more poignant as a non-Jewish person pushing this bill in a mostly Christian and Buddhist district," he said. At least seven Democrats did come out in support of the Oct. 7 remembrance legislation, all of whom hail from New York City. Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, R-Niagara Falls, echoed Chang's concerns in comments to Fox News Digital. "Many New Yorkers had loved ones injured or worse in the terror attacks in Israel on Oct. 7," Ortt said. "The least we can do is commemorate this tragic day." "Instead of taking commonsense action, Albany Democrats would rather play politics, and have time and again refused to defend our Jewish brothers and sisters." Fox News Digital reached out to Heastie for comment and response to the allegations but did not hear back.
Fox News
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
113 House Dems vote against GOP resolution condemn Boulder attack on pro-Israel activists
More than 100 Democrats voted against a House GOP-led resolution to condemn the accused terror attack in Boulder, Colorado. It passed 280 – 113, with 75 Democrats joining Republicans to vote for the bill. Six lawmakers – five Democrats and one Republican – voted "present." The legislation was introduced by Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colo., last week in response to the attack. But Democratic lawmakers made clear they were opposed to language in the resolution that they felt was politically charged. In addition to condemning the attack, Evans' resolution also appeared to rebuke blue-leaning sanctuary jurisdictions that were at odds with federal immigration authorities – while condemning illegal immigrants who overstay their visas as well. A second bill – led by Reps. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., and Joe Neguse, D-Colo. – more broadly condemning the rise in anti-semitic attacks in the U.S. That legislation netted much wider bipartisan support, passing 400 – 0, with just two lawmakers voting "present." But Evans' resolution more specifically noted the case of terror suspect Mohammed Sabry Soliman, who overstayed a tourist visa and a subsequent work authorization, "demonstrates the dangers of not removing from the country aliens who fail to comply with the terms of their visas." The Egyptian national is facing federal charges after allegedly attempting to set fire to peaceful demonstrators who were protesting Hamas' continued possession of Israeli hostages in Gaza. The Trump administration has vowed that he and his family will be deported from the U.S. Evans' resolution also "affirms that free and open communication between State and local law enforcement and their Federal counterparts remains the bedrock of public safety and is necessary in preventing terrorist attacks" and it "expresses gratitude to law enforcement officers, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel, for protecting the homeland." It comes as Democrat-controlled cities like Los Angeles and Nashville have seen their leaders criticize the Trump administration's ICE crackdown. The Trump administration's handling of anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles has spurred an outpouring of scorn from Democratic officials, particularly the decision to send National Guard troops in to break up the demonstrations. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., criticized Evans' resolution in comments to reporters on Monday. "Who is this guy? He's not seriously concerned with combating anti-Semitism in America. This is not a serious effort," Jeffries said. "Anti-semitism is a scourge on America. It shouldn't be weaponized politically." Jeffries also called Evans "a joke." Evans responded forcefully on X, "I served our nation in uniform in the Middle East, as a cop in Colorado, & now as a Congressman. This wildly offensive sentiment from Democrat's Leader is why antisemitism persists. The Left is unserious about finding real solutions." Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., who is Jewish, also criticized Evans' resolution. "You weren't here, Mr. Evans, last term – but there were about ten anti-Semitism resolutions that effectively said the same thing, solely to score political points. We Jews are sick and tired of being used as pawns," Goldman said during debate on the bill. But Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., who is leading a bipartisan resolution that similarly condemns anti-semitism but does not discuss immigration, defended Evans' measure. "Yes, it is different than mine. Mine focused purely on anti-Semitism here in the world. But he brings up a valid point not only for Jews, but for many innocent victims. Whether it was Laken Riley, whether it was the women that were raped, the women and men that were killed, those that were beaten, those that were hurt, who were in law enforcement. Illegal immigration is not a good thing," Van Drew said. The two lawmakers who voted "present" on Van Drew's resolution were Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. Greene wrote on X after the vote, "Antisemitic hate crimes are wrong, but so are all hate crimes. Yet Congress never votes on hate crimes committed against white people, Christians, men, the homeless, or countless others. Tonight, the House passed two more antisemitism-related resolutions, the 20th and 21st I've voted on since taking office. Meanwhile, Americans from every background are being murdered — even in the womb — and Congress stays silent."
