NYPD questioning man in firebomb attacks
NEW YORK - New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly says detectives are questioning a man in connection with at least four suspected arson attacks that might be bias crimes.
(Watch surveillance video released by the NYPD.)Kelly says authorities believe he was kicked out of a store Dec. 22 for trying to steal glass Starbucks bottles. He says four of the five attacks Jan. 1 were done with Molotov cocktails made from such bottles.
Police say they found the suspect through video of his car.
Fire attack against NYC Islamic center probed
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They are investigating the attacks as possible hate crimes, but it's not clear what group was targeted, if any.
Kelly said the person of interest was picked up approximately 8 a.m. close to 207th and Hillside Avenue Tuesday, CBS station WCBS New York reported. He said to CBS 2 reporter Pablo Guzman:"I'm optimistic this is going to lead to a successful conclusion."
Police have released a sketch of a suspect in the bombing of the Hindu worship site.
The bottles were thrown at an Islamic cultural center, a convenience store and two homes. One of the homes was used as a Hindu worship site.
Political leaders spoke out against the attacks. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said NYPD hate crimes unit detectives were working with precinct detectives and looking into whether there were any connections to incidents outside the city.