DENVER — In a Friday court appearance, a man facing federal hate crime charges after reportedly throwing Molotov cocktails at a crowd demonstrating for Israeli hostages in Boulder, Colorado, declared himself not guilty.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman stands accused of a hate crime after being indicted on 12 counts related to the June 1 incident. The charges stem from alleged attempts to harm eight individuals with the explosive devices, which also endangered bystanders.
In a brief courtroom session, Soliman’s defense attorney, David Kraut, formally entered a not guilty plea on his client’s behalf. Magistrate Judge Kathryn Starnella noted that both parties had acknowledged the possibility of a future plea agreement.
Dressed in a khaki jail outfit, Soliman appeared in court with a smile, holding an envelope in his handcuffed grip. His hand and arm, still wrapped in a sizable bandage from a previous court appearance, were reportedly injured when he launched a second Molotov cocktail at the assemblage. Equipped with headphones, Soliman listened to proceedings through an Arabic interpreter but remained silent during the session.
Authorities indicate that Soliman intended to kill approximately 20 people attending a weekly demonstration on Boulder’s Pearl Street pedestrian mall. Witnesses claim he only threw two of his over two dozen prepared Molotov cocktails while shouting “Free Palestine.”
In addition to facing federal charges, Soliman is being prosecuted at the state level for attempted murder and related offenses. According to investigators, Soliman confessed that he attempted to purchase a firearm but was unsuccessful due to his status as an undocumented immigrant. He reportedly disguised himself as a gardener by wearing a construction vest, allowing him to blend in and approach the group before starting his attack.
Court documents outline additional federal charges against Soliman, including using fire and explosives in the attack and possession of an explosive device, components included in the hate crime allegations.
Federal authorities report that Soliman is an Egyptian national living illegally in the U.S. with his family. Public defenders, who generally refrain from discussing their cases with the media, are representing him in both state and federal court.
Prosecutors allege that Soliman targeted the victims based on their perceived or actual national origin. In a previous hearing, defense attorney Kraut argued against pursuing the case, asserting that the alleged attack stemmed from Soliman’s anti-Zionist political views rather than ethnic animosity, furthermore suggesting that such politically motivated actions do not meet the criteria for a federal hate crime.