A New York landlord, Rafiqul Islam, found himself facing eight counts of attempted murder charges for a shocking incident that occurred on September 26. Arrested on October 25, Islam is accused of deliberately setting fire to a unit in a Brooklyn building, which had tenants, including children.
According to the New York Fire Department, Islam allegedly ignited the fire on the second floor of the apartment building because of his anger towards tenants who had ceased rent payments. This horrifying act put six adults and two children in grave danger. Fortunately, they managed to escape the fire, which had been deliberately set near an interior staircase.
In addition to the attempted murder charges, Islam is also facing accusations of second-degree arson, reckless endangerment, and criminal mischief, as reported by the NYPD.
Prior to the fire, it was alleged that Islam had issued threats to cut off electricity and gas to the unit, stating his intention to set it ablaze if the tenants did not comply with his demands. This disturbing information was reported by PIX11.
Court records examined by PEOPLE revealed that Islam had filed a civil case against Andriana Edwards on September 27, claiming that she owed him a significant sum of $26,592. The records indicated that Edwards was the occupant of the second-floor unit, as mentioned in the FDNY statement. However, it could not be confirmed whether Edwards was among the victims or had any relation to them. Furthermore, a lawyer representing Edwards in court documents did not respond to PEOPLE's request for additional information.
In a counterclaim statement filed on October 26, Edwards' attorney stated that she and her family were forced to vacate the premises due to the fire, rendering the unit uninhabitable. The counterclaim also highlighted several appalling conditions, including infestations of mice and roaches, lead in the walls, malfunctioning windows, water damage, and numerous other issues, constituting a breach of the warranty of habitability.
During their extensive month-long investigation, investigators managed to identify Islam through security footage in the vicinity, as reported by CBS New York. This arrest surprised neighbors, as Islam was commonly seen tending to the properties he owned in the area.
The information available at the moment does not clarify whether Islam has secured legal representation or entered a plea.
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