A man accused of killing one person and injuring a dozen others in a Colorado firebomb attack on demonstrators supporting Israeli hostages in Gaza plans to plead guilty this week, according to court documents.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole if a state judge accepts his guilty plea in the June 1 attack in downtown Boulder, according to documents filed by his attorneys on Sunday in a related federal case.
Soliman had previously pleaded not guilty after being accused of throwing two Molotov cocktails during the demonstration at a pedestrian mall. An 82-year-old woman injured in the attack later died, and a dozen others were also injured.
Background of the Attack
Soliman is an Egyptian national who federal authorities say was living in the U.S. illegally. Investigators claim he planned the attack for a year and was driven by a desire “to kill all Zionist people.” He faces dozens of state charges, including murder and attempted murder.
He has pleaded not guilty to federal hate crime charges. Prosecutors are considering whether to seek the death penalty in that case, according to his attorneys. Soliman's lawyers said he offered last August to plead guilty in the federal case and would accept a life sentence.
Legal Proceedings and Reactions
The Associated Press left voicemail messages for Soliman's attorneys in both cases. Shannon Carbone with the 20th Judicial District Attorney's Office, which is prosecuting the state case, declined to comment on Soliman's intention to plead guilty Thursday, citing public comment restrictions. She said County Attorney Michael Dougherty will address the case following Thursday's hearing.
Investigators say Soliman told them he intended to kill the roughly 20 participants at the weekly demonstration at Boulder’s Pearl Street pedestrian mall. However, he threw just two of more than two dozen Molotov cocktails he had with him while yelling, “Free Palestine!” Police said he told them he got scared because he had never hurt anyone before.
Hate Crime Allegations
Federal prosecutors allege the victims were targeted because of their perceived or actual connection to Israel. But Soliman’s federal defense lawyers argue he should not be charged with hate crimes because the evidence shows he was motivated by opposition to Zionism, the political movement to establish and sustain a Jewish state in Israel. An attack motivated by someone’s political views is not considered a hate crime under federal law.
State prosecutors have identified 29 victims in the attack. Thirteen were physically injured, and the others were nearby and are considered victims because they could have been hurt. A dog was also injured, and Soliman has been charged with animal cruelty.
