Man pleads guilty to federal hate crimes in deadly firebomb attack on
Colorado demonstrators
[October 30, 2026]
By THOMAS PEIPERT and MEAD GRUVER
DENVER (AP) — An Egyptian man faces an additional life sentence after
pleading guilty Thursday to federal hate crime and other charges for a
deadly firebombing attack on demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, last
year.
Mohamed Soliman is already serving life in prison plus hundreds of years
of additional time after pleading guilty to state charges last spring.
Federal prosecutors, who previously said they would not seek the death
penalty against Soliman, said at his change-of-plea hearing they would
seek a life term plus 50 years in prison for the dozen counts.
Soliman spoke through an interpreter at the hearing and said little
besides “yes” and “no” responses to the judge’s questioning, such as
whether he understood the consequences of pleading guilty. That was in
contrast to his change-of-plea hearing and sentencing in state court in
May, when Soliman apologized to the victims and expressed regret for the
attack but also defended his basic view motivating it.
Prosecutors accused Soliman of attacking the demonstrators because
they were Jewish
Wearing a brown shirt and khaki-colored pants, Soliman was led out of
court in handcuffs and shackles without looking at the victims in the
courtroom.
Yelling “Free Palestine,” Soliman lit and threw two Molotov cocktails at
the demonstrators who were marching in support of hostages taken in the
Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
Federal prosecutors accused Soliman of attacking in June 2025 because
the demonstrators were Jewish. The flames badly burned Karen Diamond,
82, and injured a dozen others.
Diamond died three weeks later. Her family says she suffered
“indescribable pain.”
In all, Soliman pleaded guilty to nine federal counts of hate crimes,
including one resulting in Diamond’s death and eight for attempting to
kill other demonstrators. Three additional counts were federal
explosives charges.
US attorney says plea agreement was ‘victim-driven’
The plea agreement, including Soliman’s proposed sentence, was
“victim-driven” and gave them all they sought, Colorado U.S. Attorney
Peter McNeilly said in a news conference after the hearing.
Not pursuing the death penalty allows victims to get closure more
quickly, Ed Victor, a Boulder demonstrator who was unhurt but close
enough to feel heat from the flames.
“He’s not getting out. It moves him, I believe, off of the public stage
much quicker,” Victor said.
A group of victims sat stoically in the courtroom, some taking notes as
the judge asked Soliman if he understood the proceedings. Several
victims intended to make statements at Soliman’s sentencing but declined
to do so in court Thursday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Hindman told
the court.
Soliman is to be sentenced in January
Colorado U.S. District Judge John Kane said he would review sentencing
guidelines before deciding whether to accept or reject prosecutors’
sentencing recommendation. He noted the guidelines are not binding.
“Sometimes I follow that advice and sometimes I don’t,” Kane said.
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A woman places a bouquet of flowers at a makeshift memorial for
victims of an attack outside of the Boulder County, Colo.,
courthouse, June 3, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David
Zalubowski, File)
Soliman's federal sentencing was set for Jan. 7.
Boulder residents, particularly the Jewish community, have described
being unnerved by the attack in their city northwest of Denver
that’s home to the University of Colorado.
The group “Run for Their Lives” had been demonstrating weekly
downtown. Soliman got near the demonstration on the Pearl Street
pedestrian mall of shops and restaurants by posing as a gardener.
Federal authorities alleged Soliman planned the attack for a year.
After his arrest, Soliman told police he sought “to kill all Zionist
people,” a reference to the movement to establish and protect a
Jewish state in Israel, according to an FBI affidavit.
Federal officials said he was in the U.S. illegally. He entered in
2022 on a tourist visa that expired the following year, then filed
for asylum.
He was granted work authorization, but it too expired, federal
officials said.
Soliman worked a series of low-paying jobs and was living with his
wife and their five children in a Colorado Springs apartment at the
time of the attack.
The couple divorced in April. Soliman recently dropped his
opposition to removing his family from the U.S.
Prosecutors say Soliman planned even more harm
Prosecutors in Soliman’s state case argued he planned for even more
harm. He tried twice to buy a gun and was denied, they said.
He threw two Molotov cocktails — bottles filled with flammable
liquid that are lit, thrown and burst into flames when they shatter
— but brought 18 to the demonstration in a box.
Of the 29 attack victims identified by state prosecutors, 13 were
physically injured. Prosecutors considered the rest victims because
they could have been hurt.
An injured dog led to a state animal cruelty charge.
While in court to plead guilty to the state charges in May, Soliman
said he has known and respected Jewish people but questioned the
deaths of innocent people in Israeli attacks on Gaza.
“Yes, I am against Israel and I can’t deny that. And that is my
right,” Soliman said.
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Gruver reported from Fort Collins, Colorado.
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