Latest news with #AlexOsante
New York Post
2 days ago
- General
- New York Post
Colorado terror suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman accidentally set himself on fire at start of attack, stunning new video shows
Wild new video shows the moment the suspected Colorado terrorist accidentally set himself on fire at the start of his heinous firebombing rampage. The footage, shot by an eyewitness, captured the suspect wearing a bright orange vest with something strapped to the back as he started hurling Molotov cocktails at a peaceful pro-Israel march in Boulder on Sunday. 3 Colorado terror suspect Mohamed Soliman apparently set himself on fire before attacking a crowd of pro-Israel demonstrators. Alex Osante Advertisement 3 Alex Osante As he raises his arm to launch a second gasoline bomb, his vest could be seen going up in flames, the stunning clips shows. 'I was right here… front row and center to this horrific event,' Alex Osante, who shot the sickening video, told Fox News of the moment he spotted the suspect emerging from the bushes. Advertisement 'He threw a Molotov cocktail at a woman, but when he threw the Molotov cocktail he lit himself on fire,' Osante said. 'After he lit himself on fire, he came back, he took off his vest, which looked like a bulletproof vest, and the shirt.' 3 A dozen people were injured in the attack on Sunday. Alex Osante Advertisement Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, was arrested in the wake of the nightmarish firebombing that left scores of people injured. Soliman, an Egyptian national who was in US illegally on an expired visa, is accused of screaming 'Free Palestine' as he unleashed his reign of terror.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Boulder terror attack witness describes 'horrific' scene at pro-Israel rally
A man who witnessed Sunday afternoon's nightmarish firebombing of a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado, described a gruesome scene in an interview with Fox News Digital. "I was right here… front row and center to this horrific event," Alex Osante, a tourist from San Diego, said Monday. "The terrorist, or the man – perpetrator – threw a Molotov cocktail and lit five people on fire. One of the persons was lit head to toe, and the other four people were severely burned. It was really sad. Very sad." Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, an Egyptian national in the United States illegally on an expired work visa, is suspected in the attack that took place at the Pearl Street Mall. Boulder Terror Attack Suspect Showed Signs Of Growing 'Lone-wolf' Radicalization, Says Former Fbi Supervisor Osante said he and other bystanders called first responders and helped the victims during the attack, but they did not know the exact nature of the attack at the time. He surmised that it could have been a mass shooting, or that someone could have set off a grenade. After viewing his own video of the attack, Osante said what he witnessed fell into place. Read On The Fox News App He said that the suspect came out of the bushes wearing a yellow vest and shirt with Molotov cocktails in each hand. "And he threw a Molotov cocktail at a woman, but when he threw the Molotov cocktail, he lit himself on fire," Osante said. "After he lit himself on fire, he came back, he took off his vest, which looked like a bulletproof vest, and the shirt." He described the suspect retreating to the bushes and grabbing two more Molotov cocktails, before standing menacingly and surveying the scene while the chaos ensued. Boulder Illegal Immigrant Terror Suspect's 'Possible Radicalization' Probed By Authorities: Retired Fbi Agent Osante said he's been to 87 countries and described the attack as "the most crazy, horrific incident I've ever seen." He said he returned to the location on Monday because he wanted to see the scene in a "state of normalcy." "Even though it was crazy, the good thing about it was that 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 so that everything could return back to normal, and … find out who it was and stop the person from doing what he was doing." The pro-Israel advocates gathered on Sunday for a Run for Their Lives event, a run/walk to raise awareness about Israeli hostages still in Hamas captivity. The victims ranged in age from 52 to 88, and one of them was left in critical condition. Soliman first arrived in the United States on a non-immigrant visa in August 2022. That visa expired in February 2023, but he remained in the country. He received a work permit from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in March 2023 that was valid through March of this year. He once again overstayed his visa and was in the country illegally during Sunday's attack. He has been charged federally with a hate crime. He has been charged in Colorado with murder in the first degree – deliberation with intent – criminal attempt; murder in the first degree – extreme indifference – criminal attempt; crimes against at-risk adults/elderly; first-degree assault – non-family; first-degree assault – heat of passion; criminal attempt to commit class one and class two felonies; and use of explosives or incendiary devices during felony. He remains in the Boulder County Jail on $10 million article source: Boulder terror attack witness describes 'horrific' scene at pro-Israel rally
Fox News
3 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Boulder terror attack witness describes 'horrific' scene at pro-Israel rally
BOULDER, Colo. – A man who witnessed Sunday afternoon's nightmarish firebombing of a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado, described a gruesome scene in an interview with Fox News Digital. "I was right here… front row and center to this horrific event," Alex Osante, a tourist from San Diego, said Monday. "The terrorist, or the man – perpetrator – threw a Molotov cocktail and lit five people on fire. One of the persons was lit head to toe, and the other four people were severely burned. It was really sad. Very sad." Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, an Egyptian national in the United States illegally on an expired work visa, is suspected in the attack that took place at the Pearl Street Mall. Osante said he and other bystanders called first responders and helped the victims during the attack, but they did not know the exact nature of the attack at the time. He surmised that it could have been a mass shooting, or that someone could have set off a grenade. After viewing his own video of the attack, Osante said what he witnessed fell into place. He said that the suspect came out of the bushes wearing a yellow vest and shirt with Molotov cocktails in each hand. "And he threw a Molotov cocktail at a woman, but when he threw the Molotov cocktail, he lit himself on fire," Osante said. "After he lit himself on fire, he came back, he took off his vest, which looked like a bulletproof vest, and the shirt." He described the suspect retreating to the bushes and grabbing two more Molotov cocktails, before standing menacingly and surveying the scene while the chaos ensued. Osante said he's been to 87 countries and described the attack as "the most crazy, horrific incident I've ever seen." He said he returned to the location on Monday because he wanted to see the scene in a "state of normalcy." "Even though it was crazy, the good thing about it was that 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 so that everything could return back to normal, and … find out who it was and stop the person from doing what he was doing." The pro-Israel advocates gathered on Sunday for a Run for Their Lives event, a run/walk to raise awareness about Israeli hostages still in Hamas captivity. The victims ranged in age from 52 to 88, and one of them was left in critical condition. Soliman first arrived in the United States on a non-immigrant visa in August 2022. That visa expired in February 2023, but he remained in the country. He received a work permit from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in March 2023 that was valid through March of this year. He once again overstayed his visa and was in the country illegally during Sunday's attack. He has been charged federally with a hate crime. He has been charged in Colorado with murder in the first degree – deliberation with intent – criminal attempt; murder in the first degree – extreme indifference – criminal attempt; crimes against at-risk adults/elderly; first-degree assault – non-family; first-degree assault – heat of passion; criminal attempt to commit class one and class two felonies; and use of explosives or incendiary devices during felony. He remains in the Boulder County Jail on $10 million bond.
National Post
3 days ago
- General
- National Post
Suspect posed as a gardener in Boulder attack on participants of Israeli hostage event
Article content Witness Alex Osante of San Diego said he was across the pedestrian mall when he heard the crash of a bottle breaking and a 'boom' followed by people yelling and screaming. Article content In video of the scene captured by Osante, people could be seen pouring water on a woman lying on the ground who Osante said had caught on fire during the attack. Article content Molotov cocktails found Article content Soliman said he dressed up like gardener with an orange vest in order to get as close to the group as possible, police wrote. Article content Osante said that after the suspect threw the two incendiary devices, apparently catching himself on fire as he threw the second, he took off his shirt and what appeared to be a bulletproof vest before the police arrived. The man dropped to the ground and was arrested without any apparent resistance in the video Osante filmed. Article content Article content Soliman told investigators he constructed the devices after doing research on YouTube and buying the ingredients. Article content 'He stated that he had been planning the attack for a year and was waiting until after his daughter graduated to conduct the attack,' the affidavit says. Article content Soliman also told investigators he took a concealed carry class and tried to buy a gun but was denied because he is not a legal U.S. citizen. Article content Authorities said they believe Soliman acted alone. He was also injured and taken to a hospital. Authorities did not elaborate on the nature of his injuries, but a booking photo showed him with a large bandage over one ear. Article content In video and photos shot right after the attack by a woman at the gathering, Soliman can be seen pacing without his shirt on with what appears to be burns down one of his arms. He and a small group of people around him are screaming at each other, with some witnesses filming him. Article content Soliman, who was born in Egypt, moved to Colorado Springs three years ago, where he lived with his wife and five kids, according to state court documents. He previously spent 17 years living in Kuwait. Article content Article content McLaughlin said Soliman filed for asylum in September 2022 and was granted a work authorization in March 2023 that had expired. DHS did not immediately respond to requests for additional information. Article content Shameka Pruiett knew Soliman and his wife as kindly neighbours with three young kids and two teenagers who'd play with Pruiett's kids. Article content Another neighbour, Kierra Johnson, said she could often hear shouting at night from his apartment and once called police because of the screaming and yelling. Article content On Sunday, Pruiett saw law enforcement vehicles waiting on the street throughout the day until the evening, when they spoke through a megaphone telling anyone in Soliman's home to come out. Nobody came out and it did not appear anyone was inside, said Pruiett. Article content
