Boulder Witness Recounts 'Horrific' Scene at Pro-Israel Rally Amid Terror Attack

A harrowing scene unfolded at the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday afternoon as a pro-Israel rally turned into chaos following a violent firebombing. Witnesses at the event, which was meant to raise awareness for Israeli hostages still held by Hamas, described moments of sheer terror when an assailant launched Molotov cocktails at the crowd.

Alex Osante, a tourist from San Diego present at the event, recounted witnessing five individuals set ablaze, one completely engulfed by flames. “It was really sad. Very sad,” Osante said, visibly shaken by the ordeal. Quick-thinking bystanders, including Osante himself, rushed to aid the injured and dial emergency services. In the immediate confusion, many feared they were witnessing a mass shooting or grenade attack, unsure of what weapon had been used until later reviewing cellphone videos that captured the incident.

According to Osante, the suspect emerged suddenly from nearby bushes dressed in a yellow vest and shirt, wielding Molotov cocktails in each hand. “He threw a Molotov cocktail at a woman, but when he threw it, he lit himself on fire,” Osante observed. The attacker removed his vest—possibly mistaken for body armor—before retreating to the bushes to retrieve additional incendiary devices, continuing to menace the area as panic spread throughout the crowd.

The suspect was later identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national who had overstayed his visa and was residing illegally in the United States at the time of the attack. Authorities have since launched investigations into possible radicalization, with experts suggesting signs of ‘lone-wolf’ behavior in recent months.

The victims of the attack ranged in age from 52 to 88, with at least one individual left in critical condition due to severe burns. The rapid response from bystanders of various backgrounds, as described by Osante, was a rare beacon of hope amidst the tragedy. “People from all different backgrounds and cultures and ethnicities came together as quickly as possible so they could help provide water and treatment and call 911,” he recalled, emphasizing the community’s collective determination to restore calm and assist the injured.

The pro-Israel event, titled “Run for Their Lives,” aimed to highlight the plight of Israeli hostages and foster solidarity in the local community. Instead, participants found themselves the target of a hate-driven act that has left the city reeling. Monday, Osante returned to the scene, seeking some sense of normalcy and closure, describing the ordeal as “the most crazy, horrific incident I’ve ever seen” despite his experiences in nearly 90 countries around the world.

Federal and local authorities have moved swiftly, charging Soliman with a range of serious offenses. At the federal level, he faces hate crime charges. In Colorado, his charges include attempted first-degree murder, crimes against at-risk adults, first-degree assault, use of explosives during a felony, and additional counts related to attempted murder with deliberation and extreme indifference. He currently remains in Boulder County Jail with a bond set at $10 million, as investigators continue to probe his motives and background.

The incident has stirred deep concern across Boulder and beyond, with renewed debates surrounding public safety, immigration oversight, and rising threats toward Jewish communities. As the investigation continues, residents and rally participants alike are left processing an attack that has shattered the peace of a close-knit town and forever altered those who witnessed its horrors firsthand.