Man to plead guilty to Colorado firebombing hate crime charges

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 16:08 · Archive

An Egyptian man is changing his plea to guilty on federal hate crime charges for a firebombing attack on pro-Israel demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, last year.

Mohamed Soliman is scheduled to change his not guilty plea to guilty on federal hate crime and other charges in federal court in Denver on Thursday for a firebombing attack on demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, in June 2025. Soliman is already serving a life sentence after pleading guilty to state charges last spring.

Soliman threw two Molotov cocktails at demonstrators marching in support of hostages taken in the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, yelling 'Free Palestine'. Federal prosecutors say he attacked because the demonstrators were Jewish. The flames badly burned Karen Diamond, 82, and injured a dozen others. Diamond died three weeks later, with her family saying she suffered 'indescribable pain'.

The federal charges include nine counts of hate crimes, two of using fire or an explosive to commit a felony, and one of carrying an explosive while committing a felony. They are punishable by life in prison after federal prosecutors declined to seek the death penalty. Federal authorities say Soliman planned the attack for a year and got near the demonstration on Pearl Street, a pedestrian mall in Boulder, by posing as a gardener.

The attack unnerved Boulder residents, particularly the Jewish community in the city northwest of Denver. The demonstrators were from the group 'Run for Their Lives', which had been demonstrating weekly downtown.

How it is being reported

• Man accused of Colorado demonstration attack to change plea to federal hate crime chargesAn Egyptian man returns to court Thursday to change his not guilty plea to federal hate crime and other charges for a deadly firebombing attack on demonstrators in Colorado last year.News4Jax · 29 Oct, 15:15
• Man accused of Colorado demonstration attack to change plea to federal hate crime chargesAn Egyptian man returns to court Thursday to change his not guilty plea to federal hate crime and other charges for a deadly firebombing attack on demonstrators in Colorado last year.Clickorlando · 29 Oct, 15:15

In this story: Mohamed Soliman · Karen Diamond · Boulder · Colorado · Run for Their Lives

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