Peoria Standard

Darin LaHood, representative for Illinois' 16th Congressional District, said that the terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, along with other extremist acts, have no place in America.

"I was proud to stand with my colleagues to condemn the rise of antisemitism and denounce the horrific terror attack in Boulder," said Darin M Lahood, U.S. Representative, according to Facebook. "This type of hateful extremism has no place in the US. Every American deserves to be able to practice their faith freely and without fear."

According to a June 9 Fox News report, a resolution condemning the Boulder attack passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a vote of 280-113. More than 100 Democrats opposed it due to concerns over politically charged language. The resolution, sponsored by Colorado Representative Gabe Evans, was perceived as criticizing sanctuary jurisdictions and illegal immigrants who overstay visas. A separate bill introduced by Representatives Jeff Van Drew and Joe Neguse passed unanimously with a vote of 400-0.

Screenshot of U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood's June 9 Facebook post | U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood's Facebook page

The attack referenced by LaHood occurred on June 1 at a pro-Israel rally organized by "Run for Their Lives," which aimed to urge Hamas to release Israeli hostages. Fox News identified the suspect as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national who allegedly shouted "Free Palestine" while using a weapon to set people on fire. Soliman reportedly overstayed his nonimmigrant visa issued in August 2022 but obtained work authorization in March 2023 after filing a claim with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The FBI is investigating the incident as a terrorist act. Eight individuals were wounded with varying degrees of injuries. Witness Alex Osante from San Diego reported that after the initial attack, Soliman attempted to throw a Molotov cocktail at the crowd but accidentally set himself on fire. Osante also noted that Soliman appeared to be wearing a bulletproof vest.

Congressman Darin LaHood has represented Illinois since 2015, initially serving in the 18th Congressional District before redistricting placed him in the 16th District. His political career includes four years in the state senate and over nine years as a state and federal prosecutor. He holds degrees from Loras College and the University of Illinois-Chicago John Marshall Law School.