The man accused of using incendiary devices in an attack on a gathering to support Israeli hostages in Gaza was formally charged on June 5 with 118 criminal counts, including attempted murder and other offenses. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian native who's been held on a $10 million bond since being taken into custody at the scene of the Boulder, Colorado, attack, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if he's found guilty of the federal hate crime charges against him. Soliman faces over a dozen attempted murder charges, two counts of using explosive devices, over a dozen counts of attempting to use an incendiary device, five counts of assault on someone over the age of 70, and one count of cruelty towards animals. Those charges could add up to over 672 years in prison, according to Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty. "The charges reflect the evidence we have regarding this horrific attack that took place and the seriousness of it," Dougherty told reporters outside the courthouse. "I encourage all of us to continue to lift up the victims, and support them and their loved ones and the Jewish community in response to this crime." More state and federal charges could be added as the investigation into the Boulder attack at a pedestrian mall continues, authorities have said. "This is a time to come together as a community and do what Boulder County has done in the past when we face tragedy, challenge and crisis, which is lift one another up, support one another, and hold your loved ones close and be a positive force to those around you," Dougherty said. Soliman appeared in court behind a transparent partition where he was asked to shake his head or nod in response to questions. Judge Nancy Salomone ordered him to return to court on July 15. The June 1 attack, in which Soliman is accused of hurling Molotov cocktails and using a makeshift flamethrower, targetedRun for Their Lives, a group advocating for the release of the hostages held in Gaza since the assault on Israel by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. Authorities say Soliman, who's lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado, after coming to the United States on a tourist visa in late 2022 and staying after it expired, injured 15 people ages 52 to 88, with burns ranging from serious to minor. Three victims remain in the hospital, according to Dougherty. Soliman, 45, said "he wanted them to all die . . . He said he would go back and do it again and had no regret doing what he did," Boulder Detective John Sailer wrote in court papers. Soliman explained that, to him, anyone who supported the existence of Israel on "our land" is a Zionist. He defined "our land" as Palestine, court documents said. Soliman threw two of the 18 Molotov cocktails he'd brought with him to the pedestrian mall, authorities said, yelling "Free Palestine." Afederal affidavitcharging Soliman with a hate crime and attempted murder says he learned about the demonstration from an online search. Heplanned the attack for a yearand waited for his daughter to graduate from high school before executing it, according to the affidavit. He hoped to use a gun and had taken classes, but his immigration status prevented him from purchasing a firearm, the affidavit says. Habiba Soliman wanted to be a doctor.Then, her father firebombed Jewish marchers in Boulder, Colorado Instead, court documents say he taught himself to make Molotov cocktails from YouTube videos. No one knew about his plans, he told investigators, though he left a journal behind for his family. Soliman's wife and five children are currently in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials;the Trump administration plans to have them deported. Authorities are preparing to bolster security at a local Jewish festival over the weekend that was planned before the attack at the downtown mall. "You will see us ready to protect that event to ensure that people can grieve and recover from this attack safely and peacefully," Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said outside the courthouse, adding that law enforcement agencies, SWAT officers, drones, and plainclothes officers will be safeguarding the event. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Boulder firebombing suspect charged with 118 criminal counts
