Boulder County District Attorney's Office identified the victim as Karen Diamond, stating she died "as a result of the severe injuries that she suffered in the attack" on June 1, according to NBC News. Officials from the district attorney's office declined to specify the nature of Diamond's injuries from the assault.

"This horrific attack has now claimed the life of an innocent person who was beloved by her family and friends," District Attorney Michael Dougherty stated in a news release, according to NBC News. "Our hearts are with the Diamond family during this incredibly difficult time. Our office will fight for justice for the victims, their loved ones, and the community." The Diamond family has requested "privacy as they continue to grieve," the district attorney's office told NBC News.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, stands accused of deploying a "makeshift flamethrower" and Molotov cocktails against individuals calling for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, NBC News reported. Prosecutors have charged him with numerous counts, including 28 counts of attempted murder related to 14 victims, according to the district attorney's office.

Following Diamond's death, the district attorney's office modified two counts of criminal attempt to commit first-degree murder, NBC News reported. The charges were elevated to first-degree murder – one under an extreme indifference theory and another with intent and after deliberation. Both counts pertain to Diamond, officials stated. The district attorney's office has additionally filed 66 supplementary counts related to 14 additional victims identified through the continuing investigation, according to NBC News. "In total, the amended complaint names a total of 29 victims in the attack," the district attorney's office told NBC News. "Of the 29 victims, 13 suffered physical injury during the attack."

The state complaint against Soliman now encompasses two counts of first-degree murder, 52 counts of attempted first-degree murder, eight counts of first-degree assault, 18 counts of attempted first-degree assault, two counts of third-degree assault, two counts of using an incendiary device, 16 counts of attempted use of an incendiary device and one count of animal cruelty, the DA's office reported to NBC News.

If convicted of first-degree murder, Soliman could receive a life sentence without parole eligibility, the district attorney's office stated to NBC News. The remaining charges carry potential prison terms ranging from 16 to 48 years. Soliman's next court appearance is scheduled for July 15, according to the district attorney's office and NBC News.

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"I had just gathered the group and started speaking when the terrorist threw the Molotov cocktail," said Shahar, who resides in Boulder and has been leading weekly marches there and in nearby Denver.

He explained that the "Run for Their Lives" initiative originated in California in the aftermath of Hamas' October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel. "The idea was to raise awareness for the hostages. A few people decided to run together, and it grew rapidly," he said.

"There are now about 230 groups worldwide, even in places we've never heard of. Some have just a few people, others draw 200. It varies."

'The terrorist was waiting'

In Colorado, the initiative has taken root in the Jewish community. "Since November 2023, we've marched every Sunday in Boulder and Denver, rain, snow or shine," said Shahar.

On the day of the attack, the group had completed their usual route along Boulder's main Pearl Street and was gathering near city hall when the assailant struck.

"He had clearly planned it in advance," said Shahar. "He came with pre-prepared Molotov cocktails and even carried a canister of fuel. As I stood and spoke to the group, he threw the first bottle, it hit their legs and the flames spread quickly across their clothes. The eldest among us, an 88-year-old woman, immediately collapsed."

Shahar and another participant initially tried to confront the attacker. "But when I got closer and saw he had a box full of more bottles, we realized we couldn't risk it. We pulled back and tried to get people away and tend to the wounded. Others stepped in, trying to shield the group."

The assault lasted about 10 minutes before police arrived. In the meantime, the marchers acted as first responders. "It took time for the police to get there," said Shahar. "The people on the ground were the ones who extinguished the flames, helped others walk, and moved them out of danger. It was incredibly disturbing."

Asked whether the group had previously faced hostility, Shahar said: "There's definitely been antagonism. Sometimes people shout at us. But we're a peaceful, apolitical group. We don't argue or respond. We're here solely to raise awareness for the hostages."

Participants, he said, include Israelis, Jews, non-Jews, and people from across the political spectrum.

"This was the first time we've encountered violence, and it sets a dangerous precedent. We always try to avoid confrontation, but this time, it found us."

Shahar himself was not seriously hurt but remains haunted by what he witnessed. "It was heartbreaking to see them injured and looking at me. I suffered only minor burns while trying to pull the woman from the fire, but that's nothing compared to what they endured."

The elderly woman remains in critical condition. Four others were seriously wounded. Three of the victims are still hospitalized, while four others have been released home.

'Why should we stop?'

In the wake of the attack, national organizers have suggested pausing the marches to reassess security. But Shahar has no plans to halt the movement.

"Speaking for myself and for many others here, why should we stop? We promised to keep going until every hostage is returned. This may be a reason to increase security, but it's not a reason to stop."

He noted that other community events may also be at risk. "Boulder's annual Jewish festival is coming up, and we don't want it to be canceled. Yes, security must be strengthened, but the Jewish community should never feel ashamed or avoid participating in communal life."

Shahar ended with a message: "The reason I'm giving this interview, and the reason everyone here continues, is because of our concern for the hostages. We want to express our solidarity with them and their families. We'll keep going until the last hostage is back."

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Authorities have not yet filed charges against Soliman. Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said at a press conference that a decision on the charges and where they will be filed is expected soon in order to "fully prosecute the attacker."

BOULDER, COLORADO - Apparent video shows the suspect in the targeted terror attack holding Molotov cocktails. pic.twitter.com/3LgCGji7tq

— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) June 1, 2025

Soliman was arrested at the scene after eyewitnesses pointed him out to arriving security forces. Reports say he did not resist arrest. According to Stephen Miller, a former Homeland Security adviser to Donald Trump, Soliman was in the US illegally, having entered with a tourist visa and a work permit issued by the Biden administration. Fox News cited sources saying he is an Egyptian national.

Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn stated that authorities currently believe Soliman acted alone, and there is no suspicion of an additional perpetrator at large.

Six people aged 67 to 88 were injured to varying degrees. Two were flown by helicopter to a burn unit in a Denver-area hospital, and four others were treated at a local hospital nearby. The FBI and Colorado prosecutors are investigating the incident as both an act of terrorism and a hate crime.

Lisa Evers, a 55-year-old Boulder resident who regularly participates in the marches, recounted: "I was running up and down the street, looking for everyone. It looked like a war zone. We are peaceful, we are not protesters – but there are always people who protest against us," she said.

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Footage from the scene shows the suspect, a shirtless man, shouting "Go away" at the marchers and cursing them while holding Molotov cocktails, before being arrested by police.

BREAKING: TERROR ATTACK BURNS JEWISH CHILDREN ALIVE IN BOULDER, COLORADO

CHILDREN SET ON FIRE IN TARGETED ASSAULT ON JEWISH PROTESTERS

I am so disgusted right now with the world we live in.

Boulder has been plunged into chaos and terror. At 13th and Pearl Streets,… pic.twitter.com/74YEfOIOLA

— Shirion Collective (@ShirionOrg) June 1, 2025

Miri Kornfeld, an organizer with the group Run For Their Lives, which holds weekly marches to raise awareness for the Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, said the group was marching on Pearl Street when a man waited near the historic courthouse with bottles and hurled them at the group. Five people were burned, including one woman who suffered severe burns and had to roll on the ground to extinguish the flames. The organization emphasized: "This is not a protest, but a peaceful march in solidarity with the hostages and their families."

Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said the male suspect was arrested after police received reports of someone "setting people on fire." He noted that the information was still "very preliminary" and that the suspect had been hospitalized. According to Redfearn, several people were injured, with wounds ranging from severe to minor. Additional footage from the scene showed burn marks outside the old courthouse and a victim being evacuated on a stretcher. Some reports indicated that children were among the injured.

BOULDER, COLORADO - Apparent video shows the suspect in the targeted terror attack holding Molotov cocktails. pic.twitter.com/3LgCGji7tq

— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) June 1, 2025

While FBI Director Kash Patel called the incident a "targeted terrorist attack" and confirmed that FBI agents were at the scene, the local police chief said, "We are not categorizing this as a terrorist attack at this time." Redfearn added that it was too early to speculate on the motive. Later, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser stated: "This attack is a hate crime, considering the group that was targeted."

The Jewish community in Boulder issued a statement: "We are heartbroken and saddened to hear that a Molotov cocktail was thrown at marchers who were raising awareness for the hostages being held in Gaza. Our hearts are with the witnesses to this horrific attack, and we pray for the swift recovery of the wounded." The statement added that the community is working closely with Boulder Police and the FBI.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said: "We are heartbroken by the news. Run For Their Lives was the inspiration for us to begin our weekly marches for the hostages. These are difficult days, and we are trying to make sense of the pain and uncertainty around us. Our prayers are with all those affected by this horrific attack."

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In a heartwarming display of Zionism and love for Israel, a surprise family reunion unfolded last week at a military ceremony marking the completion of the Israeli Paratroopers Brigade's arduous training. The event, held at the historic Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem, took an unexpected turn for one soldier when his family traveled halfway across the world to celebrate his achievement.

Jonathan (JJ) James, a lone soldier serving in the Paratroopers Brigade, made Aliyah from the US without his family through the "Tzofim Garin Tzabar" program. To mark this important milestone, Jonathan's parents, Sharon and Daniel, along with his siblings, made the journey from Colorado to Israel– keeping their visit a secret from him after a year apart.

The excitement reached its peak as the family, armed with a large congratulatory sign featuring the Colorado state flag, warmly embraced a stunned Jonathan.

Born in Israel, Jonathan moved to the US with his family when he was just a year old. His decision to return and enlist in the Paratroopers Brigade was a dream come true. Throughout the ceremony, Jonathan's supportive family – parents and siblings Amit, Ben, Roni, and Lia – watched him with pride. As the event concluded, young Lia approached her big brother, looking up at him adoringly, and said "I love you."

After receiving his red beret, symbolizing his acceptance into the elite Paratroopers Brigade, Jonathan's mother Sharon embraced him wholeheartedly. "It's emotional to see him with a paratrooper's beret," she said. "We just want him to come home safely. That's the most important thing. We've waited for this moment for a long time. We hadn't seen him for a year. Today was a big surprise. The NCO of service conditions helped us arrange this, and we're deeply grateful. As a mother, I can't help but worry.  It's not an easy time to have a son enlist. Jonathan's older sister enlisted during the COVID-19 pandemic, but this is different."

"I'm satisfied with my decision"

 "I knew my father was in the country, but then my whole family surprised me. It was very moving," Jonathan told Israel Hayom.

Jonathan explained that his dream was to join the IDF and wear the red beret of the Paratroopers. "This is what I wanted to do from a very young age. I was born here in Israel, and we moved when I was a year old. I'm satisfied with my decision. Being a lone soldier is hard, but in the end, it's worth it – protecting my country, knowing I'm doing something important and not just sitting in some class."

The highly motivated Jonathan plans to soon undergo sniper training before joining combat operations. "I'm very excited. I received my red beret. It will take some time before I fight, but I will as soon as possible," he explained.

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A hiker who had lost his way during a visit to Colorado's Rocky Mountains repeatedly refused to answer his rescuers' calls because he did not recognize the phone number, officials familiar with the case said.

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The hiker was reported missing in mid-October after a trek on Mount Elbert, the highest summit of the Rockies, but failed to return to the lodge where others were awaiting him.

After thoroughly foraging through the surrounding areas where hikers usually get lost and finding nothing, authorities discovered that the lost individual had already returned to his place of lodging at the time.

"One notable take-away is that the subject ignored repeated phone calls from us because they didn't recognize the number," revealed officials in a news release. "If you're overdue according to your itinerary, and you start getting repeated calls from an unknown number, please answer the phone."

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Lauren Boebert defeated Democrat Diane Mitsch Bush in the Nov. 3 US House of Representatives race in Colorado's 3rd Congressional District. She will join a record number of Republican women elected to Congress this year.

Three themes define the congresswoman-elect's politics: outspoken support for the Second Amendment, devout religious faith, and staunch support for US President Donald Trump. Those themes apply to her being "absolutely pro-Israel," she said.

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In an interview with JNS on Nov. 27, Boebert, 33, said, "It's tremendous what President Trump has done in his short time in office," she said, citing the move of the US Embassy to Jerusalem and the US-brokered Abraham Accords.

She said Trump has been the most "pro-God, pro-Israel, righteous pro-life president America has ever seen."

She said that there have been presidents, including Republican ones, "who say they are Christian, and they talk the talk. But he's the first one to really walk the walk, and make these things happen."

Boebert, whose congressional district is home to approximately 2,000 Jews, said she supports the Jewish state "not because I'm a Republican, but because I am a Christian."

"Just from my strong Christian faith, I see where God expects us to honor Israel," she continued. "And he says those who bless Israel will be blessed."

She went on to say that the United States and Israel "share common values" such as "human rights, freedom of speech, freedom of religion," and "democratic principles."

"There's not too many places outside of Israel where an Arab woman can vote," she said, noting that women in Saudi Arabia only recently got the right to get behind the steering wheel.

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As someone who, like Trump, has decried so-called "endless wars" in the Middle East, Boebert said she's grateful that Israel has been "battling those battles on their soil with their men and women," efforts she said the United States should continue to assist Israel with financially.

Boebert has never been to Israel, although she said she's "always wanted to go." She said she plans to visit as soon as possible with a congressional delegation organized by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Although she expressed support for Trump's tough Iran posture, including withdrawing from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and enacting punishing sanctions on the regime, when it comes to militarily combating the threat from the Islamic Republic, Boebert said that America doesn't "need to be the world's police."

As it pertains to US military intervention in the Middle East, Boebert said, "Enough is enough" with "endless" wars. She praised Trump for not starting another conflict and for bringing US troops home.

In response to what US President-elect Joe Biden has said he would do on issues relevant to the Jewish and pro-Israel community, including keeping the US embassy in Jerusalem and returning to the Iran nuclear deal if Tehran returns to compliance, Boebert replied that "basically, Biden wants to undo everything President Trump has been successful at."

Despite an increase in anti-Semitism in America and abroad, Boebert said, "I don't know about there being a rise." Without naming anyone in particular, she said, "There's definitely been some congressional members who have had very anti-Semitic comments and, just like everything else that Democrats do, it gets swept under the rug and they diminish the story."

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org

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Richard Holzer, 28, pleaded guilty to attempting to stop people from exercising their religion with an explosive or fire and attempting to destroy a building used in interstate commerce in a plea deal with prosecutors.

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While each of the two crimes carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, prosecutors in return promised not to ask a judge to impose a sentence of more than 20 years when Holzer is sentenced Jan. 21.

Holzer was arrested Nov. 1, 2019 after receiving phony pipe bombs and dynamite from undercover FBI agents he had been meeting with.

One agent posing as a white supremacist had reached out to him online after seeing Holzer's social media posts promoting white supremacy and violence, according to the facts agreed to by both sides as part of the plea deal.

As he accepted the fake explosives hours before he planned to use them at Pueblo's Temple Emanuel synagogue, Holzer, displaying a Nazi armband and carrying a copy of Mein Kampf in his backpack, the plea deal said.

Holzer also allegedly thanked the agents for their efforts and called the planned attack a "move for our race," the document said.

After his arrest, Holzer told police that he did not plan to hurt anyone by bombing the synagogue in the middle of the night, but acknowledged he would have gone ahead with his plan if the building had been occupied because anyone there would be Jewish, the plea deal document said.

The Temple Emanuel is the second oldest synagogue in Colorado. It was built in 1900 largely by descendants of immigrants from central and eastern Europe.

In a statement about the deal, Colorado US Attorney Jason Dunn called the law enforcement effort on the case "the most important work that we can do – protecting our communities by stopping an attack before it occurred."

Holzer's guilty plea is a reminder that hate crimes will not be tolerated in the state, Scott Levin, the director of the Anti-Defamation League Mountain States Region said.

"Hate crimes damage the social fabric of our society and fragment communities. It is critical that those who seek to harm others because of their religion, race, national origin, sexual orientation or any other defining characteristic, be held accountable for their crimes," he said.

According to the league, the number of anti-Semitic incidents reported in Colorado increased 56% from 2018 to 2019.

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Richard Holzer, 27, was approached by undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation agents posing as white supremacists who gave him inert pipe bombs and dynamite. He discussed his plan to explode the devices at Temple Emanuel in Pueblo, Colo., before dawn on Saturday, according to court documents.

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Holzer, who is from Pueblo, was arrested on Friday and charged with attempting to obstruct religious exercise by force and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted.

"The allegation in the complaint constitutes domestic terrorism under federal law because it involves a criminal act dangerous to human life and was intended to coerce a civilian population," US Attorney Jason Dunn told a news conference on Monday.

Video: Reuters

Hate crimes in the United States jumped by 17% and anti-Jewish attacks spiked 37% in 2017, the most recent year for which statistics are available, according to the FBI.

Holzer's arrest came just over a year after the worst attack on a Jewish community in the United States – an Oct. 27, 2018, mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh by a lone gunman who murdered 11 people.

It was not immediately clear if Holzer had obtained an attorney, and the federal public defender's office for Colorado declined to comment.

Following his arrest, Holzer waived his right to remain silent and admitted to planning to blow up Temple Emanuel synagogue, the court documents said.

Holzer had sent an unidentified Facebook user a message on July 11 saying he was "getting ready to cap people" and showing himself dressed in clothing with white supremacist symbols and holding firearms, including an assault rifle, according to the affidavit.

He later told the undercover agents he wanted to use explosives against Temple Emanuel, at first suggesting Molotov cocktails, to show Jewish people they were not welcome in his community and expressed support for a racial holy war, the court documents said.

Holzer on a number of occasions visited the synagogue in Pueblo, a city of 112,000 people that is about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Denver, and at one point sent an undercover agent a video of himself walking around the exterior of the building.

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Wesley Gilreath, 29, told investigators that he "wanted the white race to win at life." Gilreath was originally arrested after hundreds of photos and video of child pornography was found on his phone, which he left on a public bus in Boulder in May.

According to police records, workers who attempted to find information about the phone's owner were startled to find thousands of pictures and videos of child pornography on the device, they then reached out to Boulder police, who in turn alerted the FBI.

A court order was made to confiscate his iPhone, which FBI agents discovered contained several disturbing web searches, among them a list of synagogues in Boulder, Denver and elsewhere in Colorado, as well as a list of mosques and Islamic schools in the Denver area, Jewish conspiracy theories, and violent shooters.

FBI and police records also revealed that Gilreath was in possession of many documents and paraphernalia on white supremacy.

In a lead-up to his planned attacks, Gilreath tried to purchase a gun on May 24 from a local firearm store in Boulder, but was denied due to a background check which uncovered that he had mental health issues. It is unclear how this came to light, but a previous report showed that a man who may have been his father alerted federal authorities and prevented him from purchasing a gun in Colorado or in other states.

Gilreath is currently in federal custody on account of child pornography charges.

Last Tuesday, US Magistrate Judge Scott Varholak said that US Magistrate Judge Scott Varholak said that Gilreath was a danger to society and will remain in detention pending his trial.

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