Family of Colorado Attack Suspect Taken Into ICE Custody

Kristi Noem, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary, announced on Tuesday that the family of Soliman, who is accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at a gathering in Boulder, Colorado, where people were advocating for the release of Israeli hostages, has been taken into custody by ICE.

Soliman, an undocumented immigrant, faces charges of first-degree attempted murder and a federal hate crime related to the Sunday attack. Several people were injured in the attack, including a Holocaust survivor. As of Monday afternoon, at least two victims remained hospitalized.

Noem stated in a statement on X that they are investigating the extent of the family’s knowledge or support of the attack. She also expressed her continued prayers for the victims and their families.

According to a White House post on X, Soliman’s wife and five children are in ICE custody and could be deported as early as Tuesday night through expedited removal, a process allowing immigration officials to deport non-citizens without a judge.

DHS has not yet responded to TIME’s request for further details.

FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek said at a Monday press conference that investigators believe the suspect acted alone. Michalek added that if evidence is found that others knew of or supported the attack, they would be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. He noted that the family cooperated during the execution of a search warrant on Sunday night.

DHS reports that Soliman, 45, an Egyptian national from El Paso County, entered the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa that expired in February 2023. He filed for asylum in September 2022.

Soliman is charged with 16 counts of first-degree attempted murder, two counts of using an incendiary device, and 16 counts of attempted use of an incendiary device at the state level, in addition to a federal hate crime charge. The state charges alone carry a potential maximum sentence of over 350 years in prison.

According to a court document filed on Monday, Soliman told authorities he had been planning the attack for a year and intended to kill all Zionists. Michalek stated that Soliman yelled “Free Palestine” as he threw a Molotov cocktail toward the demonstrators.

He is being held on a $10 million bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.

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