(The Center Square) – Mohamed Sabry Soliman appeared in court Thursday afternoon for the official filing of 118 charges against him for what authorities say was a terrorist attack in Boulder, Colo., on Sunday.
Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national illegally in the country, is currently held in the Boulder County Jail on a $10 million bond.
At the hearing, Soliman appeared in an orange jumpsuit to face multiple state charges. Of the 118 charges, 62 counts were crimes against the victims. Federal charges will be litigated separately. This was the second time Soliman appeared in court, first appearing before a judge on Monday.
His charges include, but are not limited to:
• Sixteen counts of attempted murder in the first degree, with a maximum sentence of 384 years.
• Two counts of use of an incendiary device, with a maximum sentence of 48 years.
• Sixteen counts of attempted use of an incendiary device, with a maximum sentence of 192 years.
Soliman also faces a federal charge of commission of a hate crime, with a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Following the court hearing, authorities held a news conference. Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said that the investigation is still ongoing.
“This case is at a very good point and it’s been an incredible endeavor,” Redfearn said. “The investigation is not over. We are still investigating.”
Authorities have said that further charges might be considered moving forward, including a terrorism charge. If convicted on all charges, Soliman will likely spend the rest of his life in jail.
The next hearing in Soliman’s case will occur on July 15.
Soliman had long premeditated the attack at Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall, authorities said at a Monday’s news conference.
“He had been planning this attack for a year,” said Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell for the District of Colorado. “He acted because he hated what he called ‘the Zionist group.’”
The attack started at 1:26 p.m. when multiple people were set on fire during a pro-Israel event organized by Run for Their Lives, an organization that advocates for the return of Israeli hostages from Gaza.
“Witnesses reported that the suspect used a makeshift flame thrower and threw an incendiary device into the crowd,” the FBI stated. “The suspect was also heard to yell ‘Free Palestine’ during the attack.”
According to authorities, the most up-to-date information is that there are 15 identified victims in the attack, plus one dog. The victims are 25 to 88 years old, eight female and seven male.
Soliman allegedly told law enforcement that he had no regrets for his actions and would “do it again” if released, as previously reported by The Center Square.
On Tuesday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials detained Soliman’s family, including his wife and five children. At the time of the arrests, the White House said the family members could be deported immediately.
Hours after that announcement, a federal judge blocked their deportation order, citing due process. They remain in ICE custody, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stating Soliman’s family is also under investigation to determine if they are accomplices or had prior knowledge.
The criminal complaint filed on Monday against Soliman by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado alleges that the attack could have been much worse.
“At least fourteen unlit Molotov cocktails and a backpack weed sprayer, potentially containing a flammable substance, were found nearby,” a press release from the attorney’s office stated.
It also stated that Soliman told law enforcement that “he wanted to kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead.” It is unclear when the next hearing in Soliman’s case will be.
