The man accused of using a flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to burn people demonstrating in support of Israeli hostages was charged with a federal hate crime and is facing 16 Colorado counts of attempted murder.

The 45-year-old suspect was in the U.S. illegally after overstaying a tourist visa, a senior Department of Homeland Security official told HuffPost on Monday.

Authorities say the man who wounded 12 people calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza had planned the attack for more than a year.