(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) — Neighbors of the Boulder attack suspect say they were “shocked,” and “scared,” when they heard about the 45-year-old’s alleged transgressions at a protest in Pearl Street Mall.
On Sunday, June 1, police were called to Pearl Street Mall in Boulder after reports of an attack on a group of individuals. The suspect, 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, of El Paso County, reportedly used a makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary device onto the ground. According to the Boulder Police Department, witnesses heard him yell “Free Palestine” during the attack.
During the attack, eight victims were injured, four men and four women between the ages of 52 through 88. The attack occurred during a weekly peaceful protest in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza. According to the federal complaint, Soliman confessed to the attack after being taken into custody on Sunday.
That same day, police raided a home in the Cimarron Hills neighborhood in Colorado Springs. According to those who live in the area, the neighborhood off Constitution Avenue is often quiet and safe. JoEllen Cable, who said she’s only been there for two months, noted the neighborhood is “relatively safe.”
“90% of the time is quiet,” said Cable. “We have people working, people are trying to make ends meet, and so they work.”
On Sunday afternoon, neighbors could see a heavy police presence on one specific street in the neighborhood. One neighbor, Michael Michaelis, recalled the FBI bursting into the townhome off Washo Circle.
“They went ahead and ran inside,” said Michaelis. “They also had some kind of remote-controlled cart thing, too.”
Another neighbor noted that there was a heavy police presence all day. The man, who decided to remain anonymous, told FOX21 he was shocked to hear about Soliman.
“I’ve had good words with him, he was a nice regular guy,” said the neighbor. “He went to work with his family, you didn’t bother him, he didn’t bother you, so I’m completely shocked. He was super nice.”
The neighbor said Soliman was an Uber driver and was “gone a lot.” According to the man, Soliman’s children and his played together. The federal complaint revealed that Soliman lived with his wife and five children at the home located in Cimarron Hills.
“It’s sad,” said the man. “You never know what can push someone over the edge… You just never know.”
While some neighbors were surprised, Michaelis said events like these happen everywhere.
Soliman is being held at the Boulder County Jail on a $10 million bond. Soliman is facing federal hate crime charges in addition to state charges.
