Boulder Firebombing Suspect Pleads Not Guilty to Murder and Hate Crime Charges
A man accused of an antisemitic firebombing on the Pearl Street Mall in June, resulting in the death of one woman and injuries to 14 people and a dog, pleaded not guilty to over 100 criminal charges in Boulder County District Court. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian immigrant living in the U.S. illegally, faces charges including first-degree murder, attempted murder, assault, and animal cruelty. The attack claimed the life of 82-year-old Karen Diamond, who suffered third-degree burns. Initially, 15 people were reported injured, but the number later increased to 29 victims, including those who were physically harmed and those who narrowly escaped harm.
In addition to the murder charges, Soliman is accused of attempted murder, assault, using explosive devices, and hate crimes related to the firebombing incident. He is currently held in federal custody with a bail set at $10 million. Witnesses reported seeing Soliman throwing Molotov cocktails at people gathered for a demonstration on the Pearl Street Mall. Soliman claimed the attack was in retaliation for the demonstrators' support of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. He expressed a desire to harm "Zionist people" and had planned the attack for over a year, initially intending a mass shooting before resorting to using Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower.
Soliman's immigration status has been a point of contention, as he overstayed his tourist visa and remained in the U.S. illegally. Following the attack, his wife and children were detained by immigration authorities, with plans for deportation halted by a judge in July. The case has sparked outrage and raised concerns about hate crimes and immigration enforcement in the country. The legal proceedings against Soliman continue as the community seeks justice for the victims of the tragic incident.