Woman Burned In Boulder Incident Passes Away
The tragic death of Karen Diamond has added a devastating new chapter to what was already one of the most harrowing antisemitic attacks in recent American memory.
Diamond, 82, succumbed to injuries sustained during a firebomb attack in Boulder, Colorado, an incident that has not only shaken the local Jewish community but has once again underscored the rising tide of violent extremism fueled by hate.
The attack occurred on June 1 during a peaceful pro-Israel demonstration. Protesters had gathered to demand the release of hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel—a horrific act that had already left Jewish communities worldwide raw with grief.
In Boulder, those wounds were cruelly reopened when a man allegedly deployed incendiary devices, including what the FBI described as a “makeshift flamethrower,” against the demonstrators.
Karen Diamond, a grandmother and active member of Congregation Bonai Shalom, was among the most seriously injured. She fought for nearly four weeks before passing away on June 25. The announcement came via Rabbi Marc Soloway, who voiced the aching sorrow of a community stunned by her loss: “There are no words to express the pain of this horrific loss of our beloved member and friend.”
The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, is now facing a staggering array of charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, 52 counts of attempted murder, and 46 other related offenses.
Soliman, an Egyptian national, was reportedly living in the United States illegally after overstaying his visa in 2023. Federal prosecutors have also filed 12 hate crime charges, painting a grim picture of ideological violence executed with calculated brutality.
The Diamond family has requested privacy as they mourn, but the public reverberations of this attack continue to grow.
Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty noted that the community is still grappling with the “horrific” impact of the crime, stating, “This attack has now claimed the life of an innocent person who was beloved by her family and friends.”