The man who firebombed a pro-hostage rally in Boulder, Colorado, last year, killing one of the attendees, will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 46, was sentenced 2,128 years behind bars, the maximum available sentence, after pleading guilty on Thursday to first-degree murder and 100 other charges for throwing Molotov cocktails into the crowd on June 1, 2025.
Karen Diamond, 82, died from injuries sustained in the attack, which also injured 28 people. Soliman yelled “free Palestine” during the assault and expressed intent to kill Zionists.
Michael Dougherty, Boulder County district attorney, said at a press conference on Thursday that "this was an attack on the Jewish community and an act of terror".
"Today we've seen the defendant held fully accountable and fully responsible for the horrific hate crime that he committed and the act of antisemitism he committed after planning it out and taking methodical and intentional steps to harm as many people in the Jewish community as he possibly could here in Boulder," Dougherty said.
"The defendant is now going to spend the rest of his life in state prison, or federal prison, knowing he destroyed the lives of innocent, wonderful people. And he killed Karen Diamond.
"As much as this act was brutal and monstrous and horrific, it was also – and hear me loud and clear – cowardly, because you want to come to Boulder County, you want to go to any community and set innocent people on fire, you are truly a coward.
"And we saw that reflected in the statements he made in court today, too."
Stephen Redfearn, chief of the Boulder Police Department, said at the press conference that he is "very thankful" for the verdict.
"That verdict sent a message, not only to the offender but also to anybody who thinks they can come and harm our community," he said. "This targeted attack against our Jewish community was unacceptable, and this verdict here today provides some sense of justice.
"I've seen a lot in my career, and this was not my first response to an incident of mass violence.
"But this was one of the most heinous and cowardly crimes that I have ever seen."
The American Jewish Committee stated that "Karen Diamond didn’t pass away from some unnamed hate. She was murdered in an antisemitic attack by a perpetrator shouting 'Free Palestine'.
"There must be zero tolerance for antisemitic violence, and those who commit such crimes must be held fully accountable.”
Dozens of Jewish communal leaders in Boulder, including 10 rabbis, stated jointly that "our hearts remain with the loved ones of Karen Sorin Diamond, may her memory be a blessing, whose life was taken as a result of this horrific act, and with the 28 survivors who continue to carry the physical and emotional scars of the attack".
"With the one-year anniversary approaching, we know this week is heavy for many in our community. We see you. We are with you," the group stated.
"Since June 1, we have witnessed something we will never forget. In the wake of unimaginable tragedy, this community showed up: neighbors, faith leaders, elected officials and people from across the country and around the world. That solidarity carried us through our darkest moments, and it sustains us still.
"This guilty plea and sentencing do not erase our pain. But it matters. It tells our community that acts of hate-fueled terror and antisemitic violence will not be tolerated and will be met with significant consequences," they added.
"We hope that this outcome helps the survivors as they continue their ongoing healing process and brings some comfort to Jews around the world who face antisemitism every single day."
Soliman entered his guilty plea in Boulder County District Court. Prosecutors said that he still faces federal charges in a case where the death penalty remains a possibility, which it does not in Colorado.
The Anti-Defamation League stated that the firebombing was "one of the most shocking antisemitic acts in American history".
"This attack deeply traumatised the entire Jewish community and served as a reminder of what can happen when antisemitism is normalised in society," the ADL stated. "No act of justice will bring back the life of Ms. Diamond, nor will it heal the wounds of those who suffered as a result of this horrific attack on a peaceful group of Americans."
"This firebombing was not a random act. The perpetrator planned this attack for over a year, targeting Jewish community members who were peacefully and publicly expressing their values," the nonprofit said. "This demands a serious response, but the resolution of the state charges is just the beginning of the long road to justice for the victims."
The Trump administration has also sought to deport members of Soliman’s family despite court orders blocking removal, according to Eric Lee, an attorney for Soliman's ex-wife and her family. "The El Gamal family is thinking of all the victims who suffered because of what Mr. Soliman did," Lee told USA Today.
Lauren Bis, a spokeswoman for the US Department of Homeland Security, told USA Today that the agency would not back down.
“Under President Trump, the Department of Homeland Security will continue to fight for the removal of those who have no right to be in our country—especially terrorists and their associates," she stated. "We are confident the courts will ultimately vindicate us.”
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