Prefer Jewish News on Google
82-year-old dies after firebomb attack on Israel rally in Colorado
Suspect charged with hate crimes after targeting demonstrators with firebombs while shouting “Free Palestine”
An 82-year-old woman has died from her injuries following a Molotov cocktail attack on a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado, earlier this month.
Karen Diamond was among eight people wounded when firebombs were thrown at a weekly demonstration in support of Israeli hostages on 1 June.
“Karen Diamond died as a result of the severe injuries that she suffered in the attack,” the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement on Monday.
Prosecutors allege the attacker, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, approached the group outside the Boulder County Courthouse disguised in a high-visibility vest and posing as a gardener. He then hurled two Molotov cocktails while shouting “Free Palestine”.
Soliman, an Egyptian national who entered the US unlawfully, faces 12 federal hate crime charges and multiple counts of attempted murder in state court. Investigators say he planned to kill up to 20 people and had prepared dozens of homemade firebombs but only threw two before being stopped.
He pleaded not guilty at a federal court hearing last week. Soliman did not speak and followed proceedings via an Arabic interpreter.
According to officials, he admitted trying to buy a gun but was unable to do so because of his immigration status. Prosecutors say he selected the group based on their perceived national origin, qualifying the charges as hate crimes under US federal law.
The attack has shaken Jewish communities across the US, with calls for greater protection of peaceful rallies and stronger enforcement of hate crime laws.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
