By Ahmed Abdelsalam
An Egyptian man is scheduled to appear in federal court Thursday to change his not-guilty plea to hate crime and other charges stemming from a deadly firebombing attack on demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, last year.
Attack details
Mohamed Soliman, who was living in Colorado Springs at the time, threw two Molotov cocktails at a weekly demonstration organized by the group “Run for Their Lives” on Pearl Street in June 2025. The demonstrators were marching in support of hostages taken during the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. The flames severely burned 82-year-old Karen Diamond, who died three weeks later, and injured a dozen others.
Federal charges
Federal prosecutors charged Soliman with nine counts of hate crimes, two counts of using fire or an explosive to commit a felony, and one count of carrying an explosive while committing a felony. They allege he targeted the demonstrators because they were Jewish. The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison; prosecutors have not sought the death penalty.
State conviction
Soliman previously pleaded guilty to state charges in May and is already serving a life sentence. State prosecutors said he brought 18 Molotov cocktails to the scene but threw only two. Of 29 identified victims, 13 were physically injured; the rest were considered victims due to the risk of harm. An injured dog led to an animal cruelty charge.
Background and motive
Authorities say Soliman entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in 2022, which expired the following year. He filed for asylum and received work authorization that also expired. He was living with his wife and five children and worked low-paying jobs. After his arrest, Soliman told police he sought “to kill all Zionist people,” according to an FBI affidavit. Federal officials said he was in the country illegally. The couple divorced in April, and Soliman recently dropped opposition to his family’s removal from the U.S.
