By Sohaib Shams
A man who firebombed a group of protesters in Boulder, Colorado, has pleaded guilty to federal hate crime charges, adding to a life sentence he already received in state court.
Attack details
On June 1, 2025, Mohamed Sabry Soliman threw Molotov cocktails at demonstrators from Run for Their Lives, a group advocating for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. At least 12 people were injured, and 82-year-old Karen Diamond died three weeks later from her injuries. Her husband, Lou, was severely burned and hospitalized for a month.
State and federal cases
In May, Soliman pleaded guilty to 101 state charges, including first-degree murder, and was sentenced to life in prison. He initially pleaded not guilty in the federal case but changed his plea this week. Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of life in prison plus 50 years on the federal hate crime counts, with sentencing scheduled for January.
Planning and motive
Authorities said Soliman planned the attack for a year, researching explosives before driving from Colorado Springs to Boulder. While hurling the firebombs, he shouted "Free Palestine." After his arrest, he told police he wanted to "kill all Zionist people," according to court documents.
Background
Soliman, an Egyptian national, entered the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa in 2022 that expired in February 2023. The attack heightened concerns about antisemitic violence in the United States, occurring shortly after a fatal shooting outside a Jewish center in Washington, D.C.
