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USA Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Suspect in Boulder firebomb attack waives court hearing, faces murder charge
The man charged in the June 1 firebomb attack on a demonstration in Boulder, Colorado, in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday as he appeared in state court. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, faces dozens of charges that include murder and attempted murder. He is accused of targeting the group at a pedestrian mall, attacking them with Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower, according to a criminal complaint. He faces over 180 charges from the state of Colorado, increased from an initial 118 charges after the later death of one of the injured victims and identification of more victims. He also faces a federal hate crime charge. Wearing a striped orange-and-white jumpsuit, Soliman agreed to his defense lawyer's request for the waiver, which means the court will find probable cause for all the state charges. Public defender Kathryn Herold also indicated she would pursue a continuance at Soliman's arraignment, now set for Sept. 9. Prosecutors say 13 people were injured in the attack at a Boulder street mall. Karen Diamond, 82, died of her injuries on June 25, officials have said. The charges include two counts of first-degree murder, 52 counts of attempted murder, 10 counts of assault, 18 counts of attempted assault, two counts of using an incendiary device, 16 counts of attempted use of an incendiary device and one count of animal cruelty (prosecutors said a dog was injured in the attack). The most serious charge, first-degree murder, carries a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Soliman could also face a life sentence if he's convicted of the federal hate crime charge. USA TODAY has reached out to Soliman's defense attorney. Soliman is an Egyptian native who authorities said overstayed a tourist visa to the United States. In the wake of the attack, Trump administration officials detained and threatened to deport his wife and children. What happened in the Boulder firebomb attack? The attack happened the afternoon of June 1 at the Pearl Street Mall in downtown Boulder, authorities said. The group Run for Their Lives was holding a weekly demonstration advocating for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas militants. Soliman threw two lit Molotov cocktails into the crowd while yelling, "Free Palestine," according to a federal criminal complaint. A Boulder police officer wrote in an arrest warrant that Soliman admitted to planning the attack for over a year and was waiting for his oldest daughter to graduate from high school, which she had days prior. Witnesses said he threw two Molotov cocktails and used a blow torch to set people on fire. Authorities said in the federal complaint that Soliman admitted to investigators that "he wanted to kill all Zionist people" and wanted to stop them from taking over "our land," referring to Palestine. Jewish woman died from injuries weeks after attack Diamond, a mother and grandmother, was among the group of demonstrators targeted in the attack, authorities said. She initially survived the assault but died more than three weeks later and was privately buried, according to authorities and members of her synagogue, Boulder's Bonai Shalom. "This horrific attack has now claimed the life of an innocent person who was beloved by her family and friends," Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty said. After Diamond's death, prosecutors amended two of the charges against Soliman from attempted murder to first-degree murder. One of the counts alleges murder under an extreme indifference theory and the other murder with intent and after deliberation, prosecutors said. Contributing: Trevor Hughes
Hindustan Times
30-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Who was Karen Diamond? Colorado woman dies from injuries suffered in Boulder terror attack
A Colorado woman has died from injuries sustained in a brutal antisemitic attack in Boulder, prompting prosecutors to upgrade charges against the suspect to state-level first-degree murder. The incident, now being investigated as a hate crime, has deeply shaken Boulder's Jewish community and comes amid a troubling rise in antisemitic violence across the country. Karen Diamond, 82, succumbed to injuries from a hate-fueled attack in Boulder. (Photo by Eli Imadali / AFP)(AFP) Also Read: Wess Roley: Alleged old photo of Idaho shooting suspect posing with rifle surfaces The 82-year-old who died on June 25 was identified as Karen Diamond. he was privately laid to rest with only close family in attendance, according to authorities and members of her synagogue, Boulder's Congregation Bonai Shalom. Officials said the victim, identified as Diamond, was part of a group peacefully protesting to raise awareness for Israeli hostages being held in Gaza, as reported by USA Today. Rabbi Marc Soloway announced Diamond's death in a statement made public on June 30. She said, "There are no words to express the pain of this horrific loss of our beloved member and friend. We will need to support each other as we process this loss." In a separate statement, Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty described the Diamond's death as "horrific." He added, "Part of what makes Colorado special is that people come together in response to a tragedy; I know that the community will continue to unite in supporting the Diamond family and all the victims of this attack." Also Read: Coeur d'Alene shooting: A day of horror in Idaho as firefighters ambushed and killed | Photos What do we know about the suspect? Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, is a father of five children who is an Uber driver by profession. Jailed Soliman was already facing federal hate crime charges, and now faces additional legal consequences. On June 30, prosecutors announced new state-level charges against him, including first-degree murder and 66 additional counts tied to the attack. The federal officials revealed that he was staying in the United States long after his visa had expired. Police said Soliman, who is Muslim, admitted to targeting the "Run for Their Lives" walk on Boulder's Pearl Street pedestrian mall due to his anger over participants' perceived support for Israel's war in Gaza. The weekly walk, attended by many Jewish community members, aimed to raise awareness for hostages taken by Hamas in the October 2023 attack on Israel. During the assault, Soliman reportedly shouted 'Free Palestine' before unleashing violence. He now faces state charges tied to 29 victims, including 13 who suffered physical injuries, as well as animal cruelty charges related to a dog that was harmed in the attack. Federal prosecutors have not yet confirmed whether additional federal charges will be filed.
UPI
30-06-2025
- UPI
Woman, 82, dies nearly month after Colorado antisemitic firebombing
June 30 (UPI) -- An 82-year-old woman burned in an antisemitic firebombing in Boulder, Colo., earlier this month has died, authorities said Monday, prompting an upgrade in criminal charges against the person suspected of carrying out the attack. Karen Diamond, among 14 people injured in the attack at Boulder's Pearl Street Mall on June 1, died "tragically as a result of the severe injuries that she suffered in the attack," the district attorney's office said. Diamond and one other victim were airlifted to a Denver-area hospital in Aurora, which is 32 miles north of Boulder, because of the severity of their injuries. Diamond previously hadn't not been identified publicly. "There are simply no words to properly express the pain of this tragic loss," Boulder Jewish Community Center Executive Director Jonathan Lev and JCC Board Chair David Paul said in an email to the Boulder Daily Camera. "Karen was a cherished member of our community, someone whose warmth and generosity left a lasting impact on all who knew her." With Diamond's death, prosecutors have updated charges against Mohamed Soliman, 45, of Colorado Springs, KUSA-TV reported. Prosecutors amended counts 4 and 5 to first-degree murder, instead of attempted murder. He was arrested after the attack on a group of people peacefully marching in the Run for Their Lives event to raise awareness of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza. "This horrific act of terror has now claimed the life of an innocent person who was beloved by her family and friends," District Attorney Michael Dougherty said. "Our hearts are with the Diamond family during this incredibly difficult time. Our office will fight for justice for all the victims, their loved ones, and the community. "Part of what makes Colorado special is that people come together in response to a tragedy; I know that the community will unite in supporting the Diamond family and all the victims of this attack." Prosecutors also added 66 more counts, which are related to 14 additional victims identified through the ongoing investigation, for a total of 101 counts. In all, 13 were physically injured. If convicted of the first-degree murder charge, he faces an automatic life sentence without parole. A dog also was injured in the attack. On June 2, state bond was set at $10 million and the same day he was charged in federal court, including one hate crime count. Last week, he was charged with nine federal counts of hate crime. Other charges are two counts of using fire or an explosive to commit a felony, and one count of carrying an explosive during the commission of a felony. If convicted in federal court, Soliman could face the maximum sentence of life in prison. He pleaded not guilty to those charges during a hearing Friday. The Department of Justice hadn't said yet whether the charges would be updated. Soliman, an Egyptian national, entered California in August 2022 on a B2 visa that expired in February 2023 and his asylum claim was pending, said Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He reportedly lived in Kuwait for 17 years before moving to Colorado.
The Hill
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Boulder terror suspect faces new charges
The man accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at pro-Israeli demonstrators in Boulder, Colo., earlier this month has been charged with murder after one of the victims of the alleged terrorist attack died from her injuries, authorities announced Monday. Mohamed Soliman, 45, faces dozens of additional counts after more victims were identified, bringing the total number of criminal charges to more than 100. Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said in a news release that authorities have increased the number of identified victims of the attack to 29, including 82-year-old Karen Diamond, who died from severe injuries suffered. Soliman faces federal hate crime charges for allegedly targeting the Run for Their Lives event because of the demonstrators' support for Israel. According to court records, authorities found a handwritten document in Soliman's vehicle that read, 'Zionism is our enemies untill Jerusalem is liberated and they are expelled from our land.' 'This horrific attack has now claimed the life of an innocent person who was beloved by her family and friends,' Dougherty said in a statement. 'Our office will fight for justice for the victims, their loved ones, and the community.' 'Part of what makes Colorado special is that people come together in response to a tragedy; I know that the community will continue to unite in supporting the Diamond family and all the victims of this attack,' he added. In a statement provided via the DA's office, Diamond's family requested privacy. Diamond and other demonstrators had gathered in Boulder on June 1 to call for the return of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, when authorities say Soliman used a 'makeshift flamethrower' and 'incendiary devices' to attack the crowd. According to the FBI, the attacker 'was heard to yell 'free Palestine,' during the attack.' Soliman faces life in prison if convicted on the murder charge. Other charges include 52 counts of attempted first-degree murder, eight counts of first-degree assault, 18 counts of attempted first-degree assault, two counts of third-degree assault, two counts of using an incendiary device and 16 counts of attempted use of an incendiary device. Each of those charges carries penalties of multiple years behind bars.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Boulder attack suspect pleads not guilty to federal hate crime charges
The man accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at a group of Colorado marchers advocating for the release of hostages being held in Gaza pleaded not guilty to federal hate crime charges on Friday. Mohamed Soliman, 45, appeared in federal court in Denver for his arraignment after being indicted this week on a dozen federal charges in connection with the June 1 attack. He had previously been charged by complaint with a federal hate crime offense. MORE: Suspect in Boulder attack charged with 118 counts, including attempted murder, assault charges Prosecutors say Soliman ignited and threw two Molotov cocktails at the Run for Their Lives group during their Boulder walk, at one point shouting, "Free Palestine!" During an interview with law enforcement, Soliman said he learned of the Run for Their Lives walk after searching for "Zionist" events online, according to the 12-count indictment. A handwritten document recovered from his vehicle stated, "Zionism is our enemies untill [sic] Jerusalem is liberated and they are expelled from our land" and described Israel as a 'cancer entity," according to the indictment. He remains in federal custody. MORE: Boulder attack latest: Judge blocks deportation of suspect's family Soliman also faces 118 state charges in connection with the attack, which left over a dozen people, including a Holocaust survivor, injured. The slew of charges includes 28 counts of attempted murder, along with assault and explosives charges. He is next scheduled to appear in court in the state case on July 15.
