Crimeupdated 1h ago2 min read
Archive photo · 7 May 2026Mohamed Soliman Pleads Guilty To Federal Hate Crime Charges In Boulder Pearl Street Mall Firebombing
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Mohamed Soliman pleaded guilty to twelve charges, including hate crimes, for Boulder Pearl Street firebombing. He is already serving life for state charges tied to the attack.
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Guilty Plea in Boulder
Mohamed Soliman pleaded guilty to federal hate crime charges on Thursday in connection with the June 2025 firebombing on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall that killed Karen Diamond and injured several others.
U.S. District Attorney Peter McNeilly said, "The federal case holds Mohamed Soliman responsible for the hateful ideology that drove his violent acts on June 1st, 2025, in Boulder, Colorado," after the change of plea hearing.
Prosecutors said Soliman threw Molotov cocktails at a group of Colorado marchers advocating for the release of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza, and the attack took place during the Run For Their Lives organization’s regular gathering.
CBS News reported that Soliman pleaded guilty to nine federal hate crime charges, including a hate crime resulting in death, and three federal explosives charges, while he was already serving a life sentence on state charges.
The sentencing was scheduled for Jan. 7, 2027, after prosecutors and defense lawyers asked for life in prison plus 50 years.
What Soliman Admitted
Soliman admitted in federal court that he targeted the group because of its actual or perceived Israeli national origin and Jewish religion, and he shouted "Free Palestine" during the attack.
U.S. Assistant Attorney Melissa Hindman said both the government and defense lawyers are asking for Soliman to be sentenced to life plus 50 years, and McNeilly said the sentencing recommendation was driven by what the victims wanted.
Soliman told police after his arrest that he wanted to "kill all Zionist people," according to court documents, and prosecutors said he planned the attack for a year.
The BBC reported that Soliman had already pleaded guilty in May to 101 state charges, including first-degree murder, and that he initially pleaded not guilty in the federal case.
The Denver7 account said Soliman bought materials for more than a dozen Molotov cocktails, assembled them, and filled a weed sprayer with gasoline intending to use it as a makeshift flamethrower.
Death Penalty Avoided
Federal prosecutors sought a federal sentence of life in prison plus 50 years, and the plea agreement allowed Soliman to escape the death penalty, according to the Denver Post.
Peter McNeilly said the decision not to pursue capital punishment was made by U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, and he described the approach as "victim-driven."
The Denver Post said Soliman used a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to burn people gathered on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall for a weekly demonstration organized by the local Run For Their Lives chapter.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Hindman said in court shortly before Soliman pleaded guilty that, "The defendant violently used the explosives to cause permanent and life-threatening injuries to several of these victims and cause the death of Karen Diamond," and the Independent reported that Colorado U.S. District Judge John Kane said, "I have not made up my mind about the sentence."
The plea change also meant there would be no appeal, and McNeilly said the resolution was driven by victims who wanted finality and a life sentence.
