Soliman Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crimes in Boulder Mall Attack
The suspect admitted to 12 federal counts, including a death by hate crime, in a case separate from his state conviction.
By Stefan Kim ·
Mohamed Soliman changed his plea to guilty on 12 federal counts Thursday, admitting that ideological beliefs drove the June 2025 firebombing of a pro-Israel march in Boulder. The defendant had previously pleaded not guilty to these federal charges in June 2025.
Soliman threw two Molotov cocktails at a group marching along Pearl Street Mall, killing one person and injuring more than a dozen others. The federal government charged him with using fire and incendiary devices to commit felonies while motivated by the victims' perceived Jewish and Israeli identities.
The 12 counts include one charge for a hate crime resulting in the death of Karen Diamond. Seven additional counts involve hate crimes causing bodily injury with the intent to kill. The remaining charges cover the use of fire or explosives during felonies and the carrying of an explosive device.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly stated that the federal case holds Soliman responsible for the hateful ideology behind his actions. McNeilly noted that the plea acknowledges Soliman believed the victims were Jewish and Israeli, which motivated the violence on that day.
Soliman already faces a life sentence without parole from a May 2026 state court conviction for first-degree murder. That state verdict also included a 2,128-year prison term for other charges. The federal prosecution proceeds separately to address the specific nature of the bias-motivated conduct.
The judge presiding over the Arraj Courthouse hearing found Soliman competent to enter the plea. The judge indicated that sentencing guidelines serve as a guide rather than a strict requirement. Governor Jared Polis has requested a sentence of life in prison plus 50 years.
Sentencing for the federal case is scheduled for 10 a.m. on January 7, 2027.
Source: CBS News
