Suspect in Boulder Attack Held on First-Degree Murder Charges
The man who attacked eight people on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall on Sunday afternoon is currently being held on suspicion of first-degree murder, as per jail records.
Fortunately, none of the eight victims have succumbed to their injuries, as confirmed by Boulder police in a Monday morning update.
Details on the Suspect
The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was arrested and booked into Boulder County Jail late Sunday night on suspicion of eight felonies, including murder and assault. He is currently being held on a $10 million bond, according to jail records.
Soliman, an Egyptian citizen, was residing in Colorado illegally on an expired tourist visa at the time of the attack, as reported by the New York Times.
He entered the U.S. in August 2022 on a visa that expired in February 2023. Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin mentioned in a social media statement on Monday morning that Soliman had filed for asylum in September 2022, without specifying the status of that request.
Developments in El Paso County
FBI agents were conducting law enforcement activity in El Paso County, where Soliman resided, on Sunday night in connection to the Pearl Street investigation, according to agency officials.
Victims’ Identification and Care
The victims, four men and four women aged between 52 and 88, were identified on Sunday night by Boulder police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as per official sources.
At least four victims were transported to Boulder Community Health hospital on Sunday. All patients treated at the hospital were either discharged or transferred by Sunday evening, as confirmed by hospital spokeswoman Celanie Pinnell.
Three patients from the incident were being treated at the UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital’s burn unit as of Monday morning, according to spokeswoman Alli Witzman.
Updates on the condition of the remaining hospitalized victims were not available as of Monday morning.
Details of the Attack
The attack, characterized by federal officials as a targeted act of violence and terrorism, took place on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall at 1:26 p.m. during a demonstration walk organized by the city’s chapter of Run for Their Lives.
Soliman allegedly threw an incendiary device into the crowd and used a makeshift flamethrower to set people on fire. During the attack, he reportedly shouted “Free Palestine,” as detailed by Mark Michalek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Denver field office.
The incident occurred just before the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, which commenced at sundown on Sunday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed solidarity with the victims and condemned the attack in a statement to the Associated Press on Monday.
Police evacuated multiple blocks of the pedestrian mall during the investigation, with the 1300 block remaining closed as of 7:30 a.m. Monday, as per officials.
This story is evolving and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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