Boulder Molotov Cocktail Attacker Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crimes
Egyptian national Mohamed Sabry Soliman pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court to hate crimes and explosives offenses for a 2025 Molotov cocktail attack at a hostage solidarity rally in Boulder, Colorado, which killed an 82-year-old woman and injured seven others.
A 47-year-old Egyptian national, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, pleaded guilty Thursday in a U.S. federal court to multiple hate crimes resulting in the death of an 82-year-old woman. Soliman confessed that he carried out a Molotov cocktail attack targeting a rally for hostages in Boulder, Colorado, last year with the explicit intent to murder Jews and Israelis.
Guilty Plea and Charges
Under the plea agreement, Soliman pleaded guilty to a hate crime resulting in death, eight additional hate crime counts, and three explosives-related offenses. Court documents reveal that the perpetrator carefully selected his victims based on their religion and national origin, stating in court, "I intended to kill as many people as possible." The attack took place on June 1, 2025, during a "Run for their Lives" march held in support of Israel and the hostages near the historic Boulder County Courthouse, where Soliman hurled two gasoline bombs while shouting "Free Palestine."
Arsenal and Casualties
According to the plea, Soliman had planned an even larger mass casualty event, preparing more than a dozen Molotov cocktails and a backpack sprayer filled with gasoline, though he failed to deploy a significant portion of the arsenal he brought to the scene. The attack claimed the life of 82-year-old Karen Surin Diamond, who suffered severe burns across her body and succumbed to her injuries after more than three weeks of hospital treatment. Seven other individuals sustained serious injuries, with several victims, including Diamond's husband, suffering severe burns requiring weeks of inpatient care.
Federal Prosecution Response
Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNealy addressed the confession, stating, "By his own admission, Mohamed Soliman's hate-filled attack against our neighbors in Boulder was antisemitic." He added, "All Americans must be free to practice their faith and way of life without fearing for their physical safety. Antisemitism erodes the shared bonds that unite our great nation and has no place in America." McNealy thanked the victims and the Boulder community for their resilience throughout the judicial proceedings.
Parallel Legal Proceedings
Soliman's legal proceedings are moving forward on two parallel fronts. In the federal arena, where he entered his guilty plea, prosecutors are weighing whether to seek the death penalty. In recent months, his defense attorneys have sought to prevent the deportation of his ex-wife and five children from the U.S., arguing they are necessary character witnesses should a death sentence be pursued. Simultaneously, a state-level case involving 184 charges is pending against him, for which he faces life imprisonment without parole plus hundreds of additional years. His final federal sentencing is scheduled for January 7, 2027.
