Mohammad Sabri Suleiman, a 46-year-old Egyptian citizen, confessed on Thursday to hate speech in federal court in Denver. This charge arose after he threw Molotov cocktails at participants in a pro-Israel rally in Colorado last year, which resulted in several injuries and the death of a woman.
Details of the confession and charges
Suleiman confessed to nine counts of hate speech and three counts related to the use of explosives in federal court. These charges are punishable by life in prison, but prosecutors did not seek the death penalty. The plea agreement proposed in this session called for a life sentence along with an additional 50 years for Suleiman.
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Suleiman's trial allowed him to answer questions from Chief Judge John Keen through an interpreter. Suleiman threw two Molotov cocktails at participants during the rally held on June 1, 2025, in downtown Boulder. This rally was held in solidarity with hostages taken by Hamas.
Consequences and reactions
Following this act, 29 victims were identified, 14 of whom suffered burns or injuries while fleeing, and 15 others were close enough to be considered targets of attempted murder. One of the victims, 82-year-old Karen Diamond, died from her injuries at the end of June. Her husband also suffered severe burns but survived.
Suleiman noted in state court that his actions were contrary to "Islamic teachings" and that he harbors no animosity towards Jews. He also referred to the loss of many families in Palestine and Gaza, stating that "the enemy is Zionism."
After Suleiman's arrest, his family was detained in June 2025 due to immigration status and held in a detention center in Texas until April 2026.
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