Soliman Pleads Guilty to 12 Federal Counts in Boulder Firebombing
The suspect admitted to using Molotov cocktails against a pro-Palestine group in June 2025, adding federal hate crime charges to his existing state conviction.
By Madison Lewis ·
Mohamed Soliman pleaded guilty to twelve federal charges related to the June 2025 firebombing of a demonstration group in Boulder, Colorado.
The defendant had previously entered a guilty plea to more than 100 state charges, including first-degree murder. In May of this year, a state judge sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder conviction. The state court also imposed 2,128 additional years for the other state offenses. Soliman had initially pleaded not guilty to the federal counts on June 27, 2025, before changing his plea during a hearing at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Arraj Courthouse.
Prosecutors stated that Soliman threw two Molotov cocktails at the group, resulting in one death and injuries to more than a dozen others. The attack occurred during a Sunday demonstration in support of Israeli captives held by Hamas. The group, known as the Free Palestine March, had marched through downtown Boulder for over a year prior to the incident. Each week, the marchers walked along the Pearl Street Mall and concluded their gathering at the historic Boulder County Courthouse.
The twelve federal counts include one count of a hate crime resulting in the death of Karen Diamond. Seven counts involve violations of hate crime laws concerning bodily injury and intent to kill. One count covers a hate crime involving the attempt to cause bodily injury and death using an explosive or incendiary device. Two counts involve the use of fire or an explosive to commit a felony, and one count involves carrying an explosive during the commission of a felony.
U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly explained the purpose of the dual prosecution. "Here is why the federal case is important in addition to the state case: The federal case holds Mohamed Soliman responsible for the hateful ideology that drove his violent acts in June 2025 in Boulder, Colorado. He has pleaded guilty to federal hate crimes, which accounts for the fact that he was motivated by the fact that he thought these people were Jewish and Israeli, and that is why he did violence that day," McNeilly said.
The judge noted that sentencing guidelines are advisory and may not be strictly followed. Governor Polis has requested a sentence of life in prison plus 50 years. A formal sentencing hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on January 7, 2027.
