DENVER (AP) – An 82-year-old woman from Colorado, identified as Karen Diamond, has succumbed to injuries sustained in a Molotov cocktail attack on June 1, during a demonstration aimed at supporting Israeli hostages in Boulder. This tragic event has drawn significant media attention as the Boulder County District Attorney's Office confirmed her death in a statement released on Monday, noting that she died as a result of the severe injuries inflicted upon her during the attack.
The alleged perpetrator, 34-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was indicted last week on 12 counts of hate crimes associated with the incident, which took place in downtown Boulder. Soliman is accused of attempting to kill eight individuals by throwing Molotov cocktails, which are bottles filled with a flammable liquid designed to be ignited, into a crowd of roughly 20 demonstrators on Pearl Street. Eyewitness accounts indicated that he yelled "Free Palestine" while executing his attack.
During a court hearing on Friday, Soliman's attorney, David Kraut, submitted a not guilty plea on his behalf. Soliman is currently being represented by public defenders, who have opted not to address the media regarding the specifics of the case. The ongoing investigation reveals that Soliman expressed an intent to kill the demonstrators and had a stockpile of over two dozen Molotov cocktails, though he only deployed two during the attack.
Soliman's legal troubles extend beyond the current charge, as he is also facing prosecution in state court for attempted murder and other related offenses. Remarkably, during the investigation, Soliman disclosed to authorities that he had attempted to purchase a firearm but was unsuccessful due to his undocumented immigration status. Federal officials have confirmed that Soliman has been living in the United States illegally alongside his family.
Prosecutors allege that Soliman, who has been described as posing as a gardener while wearing a construction vest to blend into the surroundings, specifically targeted the victims based on their perceived or actual national origin. Under federal law, actions motivated by political beliefs do not classify as hate crimes; hence, the focus has been on the victims' national identities rather than their political affiliations.
During the recent hearing, Soliman did not speak, opting instead to listen to translations provided by an Arabic interpreter through headphones. His actions and the motives behind them have sparked a broader discussion about hate and violence in the context of ongoing geopolitical tensions. The Boulder community is grappling with the aftermath of this tragic attack as the judicial process begins to unfold.
