A Colorado Springs resident pleaded guilty in federal court to 12 hate crime charges tied to a deadly Molotov cocktail attack on a gathering in Boulder, marking a significant development in the Boulder hate crimes plea case.
According to court filings, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 46, admitted that on June 1, 2025, he ignited and threw two Molotov cocktails into a meeting of the Boulder chapter of Run for Their Lives. The group organizes walks across the United States to highlight hostages still held after the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks in Israel. Prosecutors said Soliman targeted participants based on the victims’ actual or perceived Israeli national origin and Jewish faith. The attack killed one person and left several others with permanent and life-threatening injuries.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said no one should face violence because of religion or national origin, adding that the plea aims to provide a measure of justice. U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly said Soliman’s actions were antisemitic and that Americans should be able to live their faith without fear for their safety. FBI officials said the case reflects the bureau’s commitment to protect communities and hold perpetrators of bias-motivated violence accountable.
Sentencing exposure is substantial. For nine of the counts, Soliman faces a maximum of life in prison, up to five years of supervised release, and a fine of as much as $250,000. For the three remaining counts, he faces up to 50 years in prison to run consecutive to any other term, up to three years of supervised release, and fines up to $250,000. A federal district judge will set the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2027.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Denver Field Office and the Boulder Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa Basche and Daniel Pastor for the District of Colorado and Trial Attorneys Sarah Howard and Khalil Quinan of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.
Boulder hate crimes plea follows deadly Run for Their Lives attack
Authorities said the incident spread fear well beyond Pearl Street and the city of Boulder. FBI leaders in Denver emphasized that acts of hate and terror will not be tolerated and credited close coordination with local partners for advancing the prosecution.
The plea comes as federal prosecutors pursue a series of high-profile cases involving national security and civil rights, including the recent matter in which Abraham Teklu Lemma pleads guilty in Ethiopia spying case. Officials say such prosecutions are intended to reinforce that bias-motivated and terrorism-related crimes will be met with substantial penalties.