A strip mall where arson destroyed a Judaica store last year became the site of a second fiery attack Friday, when two masked arsonists in hoodies broke into a kosher restaurant and splashed flammable liquid all over the kitchen to make it go up in flames.
Whether Friday’s fire at Achla Pita Grill is linked to the blaze that destroyed Holyland Judaica store on Dec. 1, 2011, remains unknown. Each business at the Emerald Center, 5650 Stirling Road, was set afire in the predawn hours, when the businesses were closed, so no one was hurt.
In each case, there were no indisputable signs, such as a spray-painted message, that might indicate a hate crime. Both fires remain under investigation.
“I have no indication at this time that this is a hate crime,” Hollywood Police Lt. Nicole Coffin said Friday afternoon. “And there is no indication that the prior incident was a hate crime, either.”
Emerald Center is in a heavily Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in west Hollywood.
2 Responses
Is this Hollywood, Florida or Hollywood, California?
Hollywood, FL!!!!