Latest news with #UniversityofColoradoUniversityWomen'sClub
Hamilton Spectator
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Colorado prosecutors to lay out evidence in firebomb attack on demonstration for Israeli hostages
DENVER (AP) — Colorado prosecutors are set to lay out their evidence Tuesday against a man charged with murder, attempted murder and other crimes in a firebomb attack on demonstrators showing their support for Israeli hostages in Gaza. Investigators say Mohamed Sabry Soliman told them he intended to kill the roughly 20 participants at the weekly demonstration on Boulder's Pearl Street pedestrian mall on June 1. But he threw just two of more than two dozen Molotov cocktails he had with him while yelling, 'Free Palestine!' Police said he told them he got scared because he had never hurt anyone before. Federal authorities say Soliman, an Egyptian national, had been living in the U.S. illegally with his family. The purpose of Tuesday's preliminary hearing in state court in Boulder is for District Judge Nancy Woodruff Salomone to determine if there's enough evidence for Soliman to go on trial there. Soliman already faced dozens of charges in state court as well as hate crime charges in federal court when state prosecutors added murder charges following the death of an 82-year-old woman who was injured in the attack died as the result of her injuries. Karen Diamond helped at her synagogue and volunteered for several local groups, including the University of Colorado University Women's Club and a local music festival. Last week, Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Cramer-Babycz told U.S. District Judge John L. Kane that federal prosecutors have not decided yet whether to file additional charges against Soliman related to Diamond's death. Federal prosecutors allege the victims were targeted because of their perceived or actual connection to Israel. But Soliman's federal defense lawyers say he should not have been charged with hate crimes because the evidence shows he was motivated by opposition to Zionism, the political movement to establish and sustain a Jewish state in Israel. An attack motivated by someone's political views is not considered a hate crime under federal law. Soliman has pleaded not guilty to the hate crime charges. He has not been asked to enter a plea to the state charges yet. State prosecutors have identified 29 people who are considered victims of the attack, including 13 who were physically injured. The others were nearby and are considered victims because they could have been hurt. A dog was also injured in the attack, so Soliman has also been charged with animal cruelty. Tuesday's hearing was set to move ahead over the objections of Soliman's state public defenders, who asked to delay it after Diamond died and Soliman was charged with murder. In a court filing last week, they said they were not aware of an autopsy report being done for Diamond yet and asked to delay the hearing until October so they would be be able to review 'significant medical records' in advance. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Colorado prosecutors to lay out evidence in firebomb attack on demonstration for Israeli hostages
DENVER (AP) — Colorado prosecutors are set to lay out their evidence Tuesday against a man charged with murder, attempted murder and other crimes in a firebomb attack on demonstrators showing their support for Israeli hostages in Gaza. Investigators say Mohamed Sabry Soliman told them he intended to kill the roughly 20 participants at the weekly demonstration on Boulder's Pearl Street pedestrian mall on June 1. But he threw just two of more than two dozen Molotov cocktails he had with him while yelling, 'Free Palestine!' Police said he told them he got scared because he had never hurt anyone before. Federal authorities say Soliman, an Egyptian national, had been living in the U.S. illegally with his family. The purpose of Tuesday's preliminary hearing in state court in Boulder is for District Judge Nancy Woodruff Salomone to determine if there's enough evidence for Soliman to go on trial there. Soliman already faced dozens of charges in state court as well as hate crime charges in federal court when state prosecutors added murder charges following the death of an 82-year-old woman who was injured in the attack died as the result of her injuries. Karen Diamond helped at her synagogue and volunteered for several local groups, including the University of Colorado University Women's Club and a local music festival. Last week, Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Cramer-Babycz told U.S. District Judge John L. Kane that federal prosecutors have not decided yet whether to file additional charges against Soliman related to Diamond's death. Federal prosecutors allege the victims were targeted because of their perceived or actual connection to Israel. But Soliman's federal defense lawyers say he should not have been charged with hate crimes because the evidence shows he was motivated by opposition to Zionism, the political movement to establish and sustain a Jewish state in Israel. An attack motivated by someone's political views is not considered a hate crime under federal law. Soliman has pleaded not guilty to the hate crime charges. He has not been asked to enter a plea to the state charges yet. State prosecutors have identified 29 people who are considered victims of the attack, including 13 who were physically injured. The others were nearby and are considered victims because they could have been hurt. A dog was also injured in the attack, so Soliman has also been charged with animal cruelty. Tuesday's hearing was set to move ahead over the objections of Soliman's state public defenders, who asked to delay it after Diamond died and Soliman was charged with murder. In a court filing last week, they said they were not aware of an autopsy report being done for Diamond yet and asked to delay the hearing until October so they would be be able to review 'significant medical records' in advance.
Daily Mirror
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Holocaust survivor, 82, dies after Molotov attack on Israel solidarity walkers
Karen Diamond, 82, has died from injuries suffered in a Molotov cocktail attack on Israeli hostage solidarity walkers in Boulder, Colorado, according to prosecutors An 82 year old woman from Colorado has tragically passed away after succumbing to injuries sustained in a Molotov cocktail attack on a group showing solidarity with Israeli hostages, prosecutors revealed on Monday. Karen Diamond was critically injured in the June 1 incident that took place in downtown Boulder, Colorado, while participating in a walk to highlight the suffering of individuals taken hostage by Hamas during the Oct 7th 2023 attacks on Israel, as confirmed by the local district attorney's office. The prosecution has identified a total of 29 victims, with 13 sustaining physical injuries. Mohamed Sabry Soliman is facing a raft of charges in state court, including attempted first-degree murder, using an incendiary device, and animal cruelty due to a dog being hurt in the attack. He has not yet entered a plea for these charges, which now include first-degree murder following Karen's death. A preliminary hearing is set for July 15 to determine if there's enough evidence to proceed to trial. In a separate case, Soliman is also up against 12 federal hate crime charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty in federal court last Friday, reports the Express. "Karen was a cherished member of our community, someone whose warmth and generosity left a lasting impact on all who knew her," said Jonathan Lev, executive director, and David Paul, board chair, in their tribute to the beloved community figure. Karen Diamond was a cherished member of her synagogue and selflessly devoted her time to various community endeavours, including the University of Colorado University Women's Club and a local music festival. The untimely death of Diamond prompted Gov. Jared Polis to release an emotional statement on Monday, conveying his profound grief over a loss deeply felt across Boulder, the broader Colorado area, and within the Jewish community. "Karen was taken from us too soon, and we mourn her loss while remembering her life and the impact she had on those who loved her," Gov. Polis expressed with sorrow. During this difficult period, Diamond's bereaved family has asked for their privacy to be honoured, a sentiment echoed by the prosecutors. An active contributor to her community, Diamond, along with her partner, was remembered for their help in conducting public tours of historic homes, as Melanie Muckle, the group's coordinator, recalled. "Their generosity with their time and their talent and their kindness, I can't overstate that," Muckle reflected on their contributions. In a disturbing turn of events, during a recent event, prosecutors allege that Soliman, disguised as a gardener wearing a construction vest, infiltrated the assembly before launching his assault. Investigators have revealed that Soliman admitted his intention to obliterate the participants of the weekly gathering. It is reported that he shouted "Free Palestine" while throwing just some of the more than twenty Molotov cocktails he had collected. Prosecutors have now tallied 29 individuals as victims of the incident, with 13 sustaining physical injuries. The others present are also being recognised as victims due to the potential risk they were exposed to. The number of victims has risen. The prosecution argues that the victims were selected based on their actual or perceived nationality. It's important to note that under federal law, an attack driven by political beliefs does not qualify as a hate crime. Soliman admitted to law enforcement that he tried to buy a gun but was denied because he wasn't a "legal citizen." Federal officials report that Soliman, an Egyptian national, along with his family, has been living in the US without valid legal documentation.
Chicago Tribune
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
An 82-year-old woman who was injured in a firebomb attack in Boulder, Colorado, has died
DENVER — An 82-year-old Colorado woman who was injured in a Molotov cocktail attack on demonstrators in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza has died, prosecutors said Monday. Karen Diamond died as a result of the severe injuries she suffered in the June 1 attack in downtown Boulder, Colorado, the local district attorney's office said in a statement. Prosecutors have listed 29 victims, including 13 who were physically injured. Mohamed Sabry Soliman already faced dozens of charges in state court including attempted first-degree murder, using an incendiary device, and animal cruelty because a dog was hurt in the attack. He has not been arraigned on those charges that now include first-degree murder. The Associated Press left a voicemail Monday for Soliman's public defender in the state case. The office generally bars its lawyers from commenting on their cases to the media. A preliminary hearing to determine whether there's enough evidence for a trial is set for July 15. Separately, Soliman has been indicted on 12 federal hate crime counts. He entered a not guilty plea to those charges in federal court on Friday. Leaders of the Boulder Jewish Community Center announced in an email Monday that Diamond died June 25 and said she will be deeply missed. 'Karen was a cherished member of our community, someone whose warmth and generosity left a lasting impact on all who knew her,' executive director Jonathan Lev and board chair David Paul said. Diamond helped at her synagogue and volunteered for several local groups, including the University of Colorado University Women's Club and a local music festival. Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement Monday that he was devastated by Diamond's death, and that it will be felt deeply by the city of Boulder, the state and the Jewish community. 'Karen was taken from us too soon, and we mourn her loss while remembering her life and the impact she had on those who loved her,' Polis said. Prosecutors said Diamond's family has asked for privacy. Diamond and her husband were enthusiastic volunteers since the 1990s for a local historic preservation organization, Historic Boulder, Inc. The couple often helped with public tours of old homes, said Melanie Muckle, the organization's administrator. 'Their generosity with their time and their talent and their kindness, I can't overstate that,' Muckle said. During the demonstration, Soliman posed as a gardener and wore a construction vest to get close to the group before launching the attack, prosecutors allege. Investigators say Soliman told them he intended to kill the participants at the weekly demonstration. He yelled 'Free Palestine' as he threw just two of more than two dozen Molotov cocktails he had prepared. Prosecutors have identified 29 people who are considered victims of the attack, including 13 who were physically injured. The others were nearby and are considered victims because they could have been hurt. A dog was also injured in the attack. Prosecutors previously said there were 15 victims but the number has increased as investigators discovered more people who were at the scene. The victims were targeted because of their perceived or actual national origin, prosecutors allege. An attack motivated by someone's political views is not considered a hate crime under federal law. Soliman told investigators he tried to buy a gun but was not able to because he was not a 'legal citizen.' Federal authorities have said the Egyptian national has been living in the U.S. illegally with his family.
