Mohamed Sabry Soliman plans to plead guilty this week to murder and related charges for a June 1 firebomb attack in Boulder that killed an 82‑year‑old woman and injured about a dozen others. Court filings say he faces life without parole; federal prosecutors are also weighing the death penalty. Investigators allege Soliman carried more than two dozen Molotov cocktails, threw two while shouting "Free Palestine," and had planned the attack for roughly a year. His attorneys say the act surprised his family and dispute that it qualifies as a federal hate crime, arguing it was motivated by political opposition to Zionism.
Man To Plead Guilty In Boulder Firebombing That Killed An 82‑Year‑Old
FILE - Bouquets of flowers stand along a makeshift memorial for victims of an attack outside of the Boulder County courthouse on June 3, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, file)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the man accused of a June 1 firebomb attack on pro‑Israel demonstrators in downtown Boulder that left an 82‑year‑old woman dead and about a dozen others injured, is scheduled to enter a guilty plea this week to murder and related charges, court filings show.
Charges, Potential Sentence And Federal Case
Documents filed by Soliman's attorneys in a related federal case say he faces life in prison without the possibility of parole for the June attack. He also faces dozens of state charges, including murder and attempted murder. Federal prosecutors have charged him with hate crimes and are reportedly considering whether to seek the death penalty.
What Prosecutors Say
Authorities say Soliman, an Egyptian national alleged to have been living in the United States illegally, carried more than two dozen Molotov cocktails to the weekly demonstration at Boulder’s Pearl Street pedestrian mall and threw two of them while shouting "Free Palestine!" Investigators say he told police he planned the attack for roughly a year and that he intended to kill people he perceived as Zionists.
Defense Account And Legal Arguments
Soliman's federal defense lawyers have argued the attack "was profoundly inconsistent" with his prior conduct and "came as a total shock to his family." They also contend the evidence shows a political motivation—opposition to Zionism—which they say should not qualify as a federal hate crime because federal law does not classify acts motivated solely by political beliefs as hate crimes.
FILE - Law enforcement officials investigate after an attack on the Pearl Street Mall, June 1, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, file)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Victims And Community Impact
State prosecutors have identified 29 victims connected to the attack. Thirteen people were physically injured; others were in the vicinity and considered victims because they could have been harmed. An 82‑year‑old woman wounded in the assault later died. A dog was also injured; animal cruelty charges have been filed.
"It was a horrific attack. Their lives were changed forever," Boulder Mayor Pro Tem Tara Winer wrote by email, saying she planned to attend Thursday's hearing to support friends who were victims.
Family And Immigration Proceedings
Soliman's then-wife, Hayam El Gamal, and their children were held in immigration detention for 10 months before a federal judge in Texas ordered their release in April under electronic monitoring for El Gamal and the couple's oldest child. Their deportation order remains pending, and Soliman’s attorneys have asked a court to block the family’s deportation until it is clear whether they must attend federal proceedings.
A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney’s office declined to comment. The Associated Press left voicemails for attorneys in both the state and federal matters.
Background: Soliman reportedly moved from Kuwait to the U.S. in 2022 with his then-wife and five children, lived in a two‑bedroom Colorado Springs apartment, worked a series of low‑paying jobs, and divorced in April.
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