NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A Brooklyn landlord was arrested after he allegedly set fire to a building with tenants inside last month, FDNY announced on Friday.
Rafiqul Islam, the property owner of 212 Forbell St., started the fire on Sept. 26 after an argument with his second-floor tenants over unpaid rent, FDNY said.
According to officials, Islam was angry that the tenants had stopped paying rent and were not vacating the property.
The FDNY wrote on Instagram, "Interviews with the fire victims revealed Mr. Islam had been threatening to cut off their gas and electric, and ultimately threatened to burn the house down if he wasn't paid his rent."
Islam then later allegedly ignited the staircase of the building while two adults and six children were inside.
All occupants made it out of the building and were not harmed.
FDNY Fire Marshals arrested the landlord for arson, authorities said.
The arrest was made on Oct. 26 after FDNY Fire Marshals' four week investigation and conducted a video canvas. They found an image of Islam with his hood and mask down, officials said.
Islam is now faces multiple charges, including eight counts of attempted murder, assault, and arson.
