A man accused of a firebomb attack during a demonstration in Boulder, Colorado, is scheduled to plead guilty to murder and other charges. Mohamed Sabry Soliman faces up to life in prison without parole for the attack on June 1 last year, which killed one person and injured a dozen others.
Guilty Plea Scheduled
Soliman's attorneys revealed the planned guilty plea in a recent court filing in a related federal case. He is set to appear before state District Judge Nancy Salomone on Thursday to enter the plea. Soliman had previously pleaded not guilty in federal court to hate crime charges, with prosecutors considering the death penalty.
Details of the Attack
The attack occurred at a pedestrian mall in downtown Boulder, where demonstrators were supporting Israeli hostages in Gaza. Soliman threw two Molotov cocktails at the crowd, shouting, 'Free Palestine!' An 82-year-old woman later died from injuries sustained in the attack, and a dozen others were injured.
Background of the Suspect
Soliman is an Egyptian national who federal authorities say was living in the U.S. illegally. He moved from Kuwait in 2022 with his wife and five children, working low-paying jobs. The couple divorced in April. Investigators allege he planned the attack for a year, motivated by a desire 'to kill all Zionist people.'
Legal Proceedings
Soliman initially pleaded not guilty in state court to murder, attempted murder, and assault charges. Federal prosecutors allege the victims were targeted due to their perceived or actual connection to Israel. However, his defense argues the attack was politically motivated, not a hate crime, as federal law does not consider political views as a basis for hate crime charges.
