Suspected Jerusalem motel arson attack leaves 2 children critically wounded
Mother and father also left in critical and serious condition, 16 people evacuated after former disgruntled employee who claims he’s owed money by the motel's owners allegedly throws Molotov Cocktail at the building; Firefighters say 'a disaster' was prevented.
The man is allegedly a disgruntled former employee who decided to set the motel alight following his dismissal from the workplace.
During the night, an eyewitness who lives nearby said that a fire broke out after a Molotov cocktail had been thrown into the building.
Another local resident described a conversation he had with the suspect immediately after the incident during during which he explained what motivated him to commit the crime.
The suspect apparently told the resident he did renovations at the motel and that the owners still owe him money for his services.
Sixteen people were evacuated from the motel. Two parents and their two children, a 14-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy, were evacuated to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.
The father’s condition is reported to be serious while the condition of other family members is described as critical.
Rav-Reshef Nissim Levy, commander of the Jerusalem Firefighting and Rescue Division, recounted the situation at the scene when firefighters arrived.
"We responded to a call about a burning building on HaNevi'im Street and dispatched five crews and a high-altitude crane. Firefighters entered the burning building … rescued many people that were trapped there, and later took control of the flames, preventing serious injuries to other residents and a potential disaster," he explained.
