Suspect in Colorado fire attack planned for a year, FBI says

BBC:

A man accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at demonstrators attending a march for Israeli hostages in Colorado on Sunday planned the attack for a year, investigators say.

Mohammed Sabry Soliman, 45, who is charged with a federal hate crime as well as state charges of attempted murder, assault and use of an explosive device, made a brief appearance in court on Monday.

Officials say the Egyptian national targeted a group of pro-Israel protesters at an outdoor mall in Boulder and shouted “Free Palestine” as he threw incendiary devices, injuring eight of them.

At least 16 unlit Molotov cocktails were found nearby afterwards. Investigators say he targeted the group after finding them online.

It is the latest attack on members of America’s Jewish community.

The weekly demonstration was organised by Run for Their Lives, which raises awareness about Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.

Officials say Mr Soliman threw two incendiary devices into the gathering at the Pearl Street Mall, with eight of the victims suffering burns.

Twelve people, including four men and four women between the ages of 52 and 88, were taken to the hospital, with injuries ranging from minor to serious.

Officials previously said there were eight victims, but on Monday four more came forward with minor injuries.

• What we know about the attack in Colorado

The eldest of the victims is a Holocaust survivor, Rabbi Israel Wilhelm, the Chabad director at the University of Colorado Boulder, told the BBC’s US partner CBS News.

The attacked happened on the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot.

The suspect appeared in court on Monday via a video feed from the Boulder County Jail for less than five minutes, standing and wearing an orange jumpsuit.