Israeli man visiting Boulder helps victims in firebombing attack: ‘I'm used to it'
BOULDER, Colo. (KDVR) — One of the bystanders jumping in to help in Sunday's terror attack in Boulder was a man visiting from Israel.
Naor Bitton tells FOX31 he is visiting the United States after finishing his military service in Israel. On Sunday, he had planned to go to Boulder for the first time.
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'I was heading to Boulder because I wanted to hike in the Flatirons and, before going on the hike, I saw this beautiful city walk in Pearl Street,' Bitton said.
While walking along Pearl Street, Bitton saw the Run for Their Lives Boulder weekly walk happening before him.
'I was really touched because, you know, I love my people,' Bitton said. 'Five months ago when I just arrived to the U.S., I went to New York and they had another demonstration like that. And they also do that once a week on Sundays. It was beautiful.'
Bitton tells FOX31 he walked up and started talking to one of the walk participants.
'And suddenly I felt this immense heat on my left side of the body,' he said. 'I turn left and I see this huge fireball engulfing like the center of the group. People started to disperse. There were a few people that were set on fire hands, legs and one elderly woman, I was told she was 88 years old, she was completely engulfed in flames. It was terrible to watch.'
Footage from witnesses captures Bittom in the midst of what police have identified as an act of terror.
'We tried to put out the flames with the clothes and there was one guy that even jumped on her and tried to pat her, but it didn't work because of the gasoline, so she was continuously burning,' he said. 'I understood we needed water and a lot of water. So I started running back and forth, shouting at people to bring water, to call 911. First, it seemed like they were in shock. They didn't really respond.'
Bitton said he ran back and forth to bring water until the flames stopped burning the elderly woman before him.
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'After we finished putting her out of flames, I looked at the at the attacker and I see him standing with two gasoline bottles in his hands, chanting, 'Free Palestine,' chanting, 'I did it,' and 'I'll do it again.' And there were still active fire spots on the scene and people were trying to approach him. And it seemed like that's a no go.'
Bitton said he tried to create distance between the accused attacker and those around him.
'I'm just glad I could help,' he said. 'Instead of saying the wrong place, wrong time. I feel that I would have regretted not being there and being able to help.'
Bitton said that he was able to jump into action, not freeze in shock, because, while saddening, this act was not shocking to him.
'The simple answer is that I'm used to it,' he said. 'We are used to it. In Israel, terror is sadly very common in Israel. I was really sad when it happened. But I was not surprised. It was not. I mean, you know, having it happen in the States is surprising. But it wasn't, I wasn't knocked off my feet. '
Bitton is in the United States for three more weeks before he goes back home to Israel. He tells FOX31 he served in the military for five years, and he is using his experience to pursue a passion for becoming a discipline coach.
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