Boulder firebomb attack claims life of 82-year-old woman; suspect now faces murder charge

An 82-year-old woman injured in a firebomb attack on a peaceful gathering in support of Israeli hostages has died from her injuries, prompting prosecutors to add a first-degree murder charge against the suspect, officials said.

Karen Diamond was among a group of around 20 people participating in a “Run for Their Lives” event on June 1 at Pearl Street Mall in Boulder when a man threw multiple Molotov cocktails at the crowd. The attack left 12 people injured, including Diamond, who sustained critical burns. The Boulder County District Attorney’s Office confirmed her death on Monday.

"This horrific attack has now claimed the life of an innocent person who was beloved by her family and friends," District Attorney Michael Dougherty said in a statement. "Our hearts are with the Diamond family during this incredibly difficult time."

The suspect, identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, of Colorado Springs, was arrested shortly after the attack. According to court documents, Soliman shouted "Free Palestine" as he hurled homemade firebombs at the group. He later told police he intended to "kill all Zionist people."

Federal authorities have labeled the incident a terrorist attack. Soliman was indicted last week on 12 federal hate crime counts and faces over 100 state charges, including attempted murder and arson. With Diamond's death, prosecutors are now adding a charge of first-degree murder.

Investigators say Soliman, an Egyptian national living illegally in the US, had been planning the attack for a year. He allegedly studied how to make Molotov cocktails online and traveled from Colorado Springs to Boulder dressed in a construction vest, posing as a gardener to approach the group without raising suspicion.

At the scene, authorities recovered 16 additional unlit Molotov cocktails in a plastic container and a weed sprayer filled with petrol. Officials believe these were intended for use had Soliman not been stopped.

Soliman’s attorney, David Kraut, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf in court last week. Soliman remains in custody as the legal proceedings continue. Meanwhile, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials have taken his wife and five children into custody. A federal judge has temporarily blocked their deportation.

The attack and now Diamond’s death have shaken the Boulder community. Vigils have been held in her memory, and tributes have poured in from those who knew her as a dedicated community member and a passionate advocate.

Governor Jared Polis condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the Diamond family, calling her death “a tragic loss born of senseless hate.”

The next court hearing in the case is scheduled for July 15.