A Colorado man has pleaded guilty to federal hate crime charges stemming from a 2025 firebomb attack on Jewish demonstrators in Boulder. Mohamed Soliman, 34, entered the guilty plea in Denver federal court on Thursday, admitting to nine counts of hate crimes, two counts of using fire or explosives to commit a felony, and one count of carrying an explosive during a felony. The charges relate to an attack on June 1, 2025, during a weekly demonstration by the group Run for Their Lives, which marched in support of hostages held by Hamas following the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.
Soliman already serving life sentence for state conviction
Soliman is already serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to state charges in May 2025. Those charges included first-degree murder in the death of Karen Diamond, 82, who died three weeks after suffering severe burns in the attack. More than a dozen others were injured. Soliman, an Egyptian national, allegedly yelled “Free Palestine!” before throwing two Molotov cocktails at the demonstrators. Federal prosecutors stated the attack was motivated by the victims’ Jewish identity.
Federal charges carry potential life imprisonment
The federal charges carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, though prosecutors have declined to seek the death penalty. Soliman’s sentencing for the federal counts is scheduled for a later date. According to court documents, Soliman told law enforcement after his arrest that he sought “to kill all Zionist people,” a statement cited in an FBI affidavit. Investigators allege Soliman planned the attack for approximately one year and gained access to the demonstration by posing as a gardener.
Background on the demonstration and victim
The Run for Their Lives group had been holding weekly marches along Pearl Street Mall in Boulder for over a year prior to the attack. The mall, a pedestrian area lined with shops and restaurants, is a central location in the city, home to the University of Colorado. Karen Diamond’s family described her suffering as “indescribable pain” following the attack. Boulder residents, particularly within the Jewish community, reported feeling unnerved by the violence in their city.
Legal proceedings and next steps
Soliman initially pleaded not guilty to the federal charges on June 27, 2025, but changed his plea to guilty during a hearing in Denver. The judge found him competent to enter the plea. Federal prosecutors emphasized the significance of the federal case alongside the state prosecution, noting that the hate crime charges specifically addressed the targeting of Jewish individuals. The case remains under judicial review for sentencing on the federal counts.