An indictment was unsealed in Denver charging Mohamed Sabry Soliman with 12 hate crime counts. The charges include nine counts of violating 18 U.S.C. § 249 and three counts of violating 18 U.S.C. § 844(h). These charges stem from an incident on June 1, where Soliman allegedly used Molotov cocktails to attack members of the group “Run for Their Lives” and others gathered at a park in front of the Boulder County Courthouse.
The indictment details that Soliman entered the park carrying a backpack weed sprayer filled with a flammable liquid and a black plastic container holding at least 18 glass bottles and jars, also containing flammable liquids. Several of these had red rags acting as wicks, commonly known as Molotov cocktails.
At around 1:30 p.m., Soliman reportedly approached the group and threw two ignited Molotov cocktails, shouting “Free Palestine!” during one of the throws.
A handwritten document was later found in Soliman’s vehicle. It contained statements such as “Zionism is our enemies untill [sic] Jerusalem is liberated and they are expelled from our land,” and described Israel as a “cancer entity.”
Further allegations state that during an interview with law enforcement, Soliman expressed his views against anyone supporting Israel’s existence, labeling them as “Zionist.” He stated he wanted to take revenge on these individuals and searched online for Zionist events. He discovered the Run for Their Lives group through internet searches and identified them by their flags and signs at the courthouse.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Boulder Police Department are investigating this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado along with the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting it.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation, and all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
