SEATTLE: Judge Doubles Requested Sentence, Arsonist Of Gay Nightclub Gets Ten Years In Federal Prison

From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

The Seattle man who set fire to a popular Capitol Hill club during a New Year’s celebration was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison - twice as long as the term requested by prosecutors. Facing federal charges in the dangerous but non-injurious blaze, Musab Masmari admitted to starting a fire inside Neighbours Nightclub during the first minutes of 2014. Masmari was caught on camera setting fire to a rear stairwell at Neighbours, a large, decades-old gay nightclub. About 15 minutes after midnight, Masmari poured gasoline in a stairway to Neighbours’ balcony and lit the pool of fuel. The fire was quickly doused with a fire extinguisher; there were about 750 people in the club at the time.

Masmari, a California native also known as Musab Musmari, was arrested days later on his way to Sea-Tac Airport after buying a one-way ticket to Turkey. Writing the court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg said evidence suggests Masmari was motivated by an “intolerable hate.” “One of Masmari’s close associates was interviewed by investigators and reported that Masmari confided in him that he ‘burned a gay club’ and that he did it because ‘what these people are doing is wrong,’” Greenberg said in court papers. Greenberg said another person close to Masmari said he had a “general hostility towards homosexuality.” Attorneys for Masmari Charles Swift and Jeffrey Cohen noted that prosecutors were unwilling to try to prove that hate motivated the arson.

Ten years still feels like a light sentence for the attempted murder of hundreds of people. But good for the judge.

SEATTLE: Arsonist Of Gay Nightclub May Only Get Five Years In Prison

The man who attempted to murder over 700 LGBT people by setting fire to a packed Seattle nightclub on New Year's Eve is due to be sentenced today.

Under the plea agreement Musab Masmari will serve the mandatory minimum of five years in prison, although the judge in the case could sentence the 31-year-old up to the maximum 20 years allowed by law. Masmari will not face terrorism or a hate crime charges for setting the fire inside the gay nightclub, though prosecutors signaled they may have had a case after learning that a “confidential informant” told investigators that Masmari said homosexuals should be “exterminated.” Prosecutors told CHS Masmari’s motives will be in question as part of the judge’s sentencing. This week, Masmari’s defense filed a personal statement with the court where he blamed his actions on drinking too much alcohol before setting the fire. In the statement Masmari said he drank an entire “cheap bottle of whiskey” on New Year’s Eve and said he did not remember what happened afterwards.

Masmari was arrested in February while attempting to flee the country on a one-way ticket to Turkey.

TRAILER: Upstairs Inferno

If you are unfamiliar with the 1973 arson at New Orleans' UpStairs Lounge, the Wikpedia entry on the crime is a good place to start. Below is the trailer for the coming documentary on the worst mass murder of LGBT people in US history. While you watch, think about how close we came to this in Seattle a few months ago.

Source.

SEATTLE: No Hate Crime Or Terrorism Charges In Gay Nightclub Arson

From the Southern Poverty Law Center:

The man who tried to kill a crowd of 750 people packed inside a popular Seattle gay bar by setting it afire on New Year’s Eve has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of arson. Despite some evidence that he was motivated by hatred of LGBT people, Musab Mohammad Masmari will not face federal hate crime charges. The Seattle Times reports that Masmari, a 30-year-old American-born man of Libyan extraction and upbringing, reached an agreement with prosecutors on Friday to plead guilty to arson. Though prosecutors had substantial reason to believe it was an anti-LGBT bias crime, he will not face federal hate-crime charges. Prosecutors said that Masmari’s motives will be addressed by the judge during the sentencing phase, which comes next week.

According to Masmari's plea agreement, prosecutors will only ask for a five-year prison sentence. The SPLC notes that the judge is free to disregard the agreement and sentence Masmari to up to twenty years in prison. (Tipped by JMG reader David)

SEATTLE: Feds Take Over Gay Nightclub Arson Case, Terrorism Charges Possible

The federal government has taken over the case of Musab Masmari, who is accused of setting a fire in a Seattle gay nightclub as more than 700 patrons celebrated on New Year's Eve. The change in jurisdiction means that terrorism or hate crime charges are more likely.

A friend of Musab Musmari’s contacted the FBI in early January to say that he was concerned that Musmari “may be planning some terrorist activity,” according to search-warrant documents filed earlier in King County Superior Court. The friend, who was not identified by authorities, worked as a confidential informant for the FBI and Seattle police after the fire, the documents say. The friend also told investigators that Musmari, on a number of occasions, expressed his “distaste for homosexual people” and thought they “should be exterminated,” the documents said. Police say that Musmari avoided a security check at Neighbours by entering an adjacent bar called Therapy Lounge. He then passed through an interior door between the bars into the two-floor dance club and was seen on surveillance footage walking around with an object that appeared large enough to contain a one-gallon gas can, according to the state charging documents.

Masmari is a California-born US citizen and was raised in Libya. He was apprehended in February as he attempted to flee to Turkey on a one-way ticket. (Tipped by JMG reader Todd)

REPORT: Accused Seattle Gay Nightclub Arsonist Was "Provoked" By Gay-Baiting

The Seattle man awaiting trial for the New Year's Eve arson of a crowded gay nightclub may have been provoked by an email which taunted him to have gay sex. Police say the email strengthens the likelihood of hate crime charges. Via local television:

KIRO 7 has uncovered new evidence against Musab Masmari, who told a friend about his "distaste for homosexuals" shortly before he was charged in the New Year's Eve fire at Neighbours Nightclub. The email was sent by someone who signed it "your slave john." According to new police documents filed in King County Superior Court, "john" offered to polish Masmari's shoes using his tongue. The sender also propositioned Masmari, writing, “You can order me to do what you want me to do," and, "Can I have a chance?" Investigators with the Seattle Police Department believe the email was written by someone who knew about Masmari's self-admitted "distaste for homosexuals” and call the email "evidence pertinent to hate crime." Three days after the email was sent to Masmari, Neighbours Nightclub was torched on a busy New Year’s Eve with hundreds of people inside.

In February court documents revealed that Masmari had once declared to a friend that "homosexuals should be exterminated." So far Masmari has only been charged with a single count of arson. Local activists are outraged, saying that the charges should include 750+ counts of attempted murder. Masmari was apprehended as he attempted to flee the country on a one-way ticket to Turkey. He has pleaded not guilty to the arson charge and his trial is scheduled to begin on May 29th.

Child Molester Charged With Ten Counts Of Attempted Murder After Setting Fire To Home Because Lesbians Don't Deserve To Have Children

Miami police have arrested a 74 year-old registered sex offender and charged him with ten counts of attempted murder for trying to burn down the home of a lesbian couple and their eight children. The suspect told police that he is repulsed by the couple and that they don't deserve to have children.

73-year-old Braulio Valenzuela intended to burn down the home that belongs to two women, who lived next door, because they are lesbians. LaTania Dansey is grateful that her girlfriend Norma and their eight children were not hurt from the fire that was set to the home. "I feel good that they are OK, and we're OK too," said Dansey. Security cameras show Valenzuela exiting his home around 4:30 a.m. Saturday. In the video, he disappears behind Dansey's home, and moments later, the video shows a globe of fire. Detective said that while out of the camera's sight, Valenzuela set ablaze a mattress that was right outside Dansey's trailer. "I saw flashing light. Then I heard crackling," said Dansey. The flames were extinguished before they could burn down Dansey's home.Police believe Valenzuela set the fire because he was disgusted by Dansey's lesbian relationship.

More from the Miami Herald:

Florida Department of Law Enforcement records show Valenzuela-Villanueva, 73, is no stranger to police. Monday’s arrest was at least his 10th since 1994. Other charges include burglary, grand theft and retail theft. The state records also show he was first arrested for fondling a child in 1994, but the charges were dropped. Then in September 1999, Valenzuela-Villanueva was charged with kidnapping, false imprisonment and indecent exposure to a child under 13. He was later charged with molesting a child in 2006, and arrested again in 2011 for failing to register as a sex offender.

Save this one for the next time haters try to troll you.

Seattle Arson Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

Musab Masmari yesterday pleaded not guilty to a single count of arson in the New Year's Eve fire at a Seattle gay nightclub.

Musmari, 30, is being held in the King County Jail. A hearing in the case has been set for March 5th. Musmari was also ordered to have no contact with Neighbours or its employees. A judge had previously set Musmari’s bail at $1 million after prosecutors said he posed a flight risk. Musmari was found with a one-way ticket to Turkey and two passports when police arrested him in January. Musmari also has several other ongoing cases unrelated to the incident at Neighbours. Earlier, CHS documented Musmari’s increased brushes with the law in the past year on Capitol Hill including assaults and protection order violations. In a recent conviction and sentence that he is appealing, Musmari was required to undergo a mental health evaluation.

Masmari allegedly told a police informant that "homosexuals should be exterminated." That revelation has spawned speculation that federal hate crime charges are coming.

WASHINGTON: Seattle Gay Nightclub Arson Suspect Allegedly Told Friend "Homosexuals Should Be Exterminated"

According to newly released court documents, Seattle gay nightclub arson suspect Musab Masmari told a friend that "homosexuals should be exterminated." This is the first evidence yet disclosed as to Masmari's possible motivation for setting the fire on New Year's Eve as over 750 patrons celebrated.

According to investigative documents filed in King County Superior Court, the 30-year old Masmari told a friend “that homosexuals should be exterminated.” That friend, a member of the local Muslim community, went straight to the FBI because he believed Masmari may have also been planning a terrorist attack. That friend became a confidential informant. According to the documents, Masmari first met the informant at Fatima’s Cafe near the Masjid at Taqwa Mosque on Seattle’s East Union Street, shortly after the fire at Neighbours. The informant contacted the FBI soon after meeting Masmari because he was "concerned" that Masmari "may be planning some terrorist activity" because he spoke of "something he's planning." The informant told investigators that Masmari told him "he had obtained a rifle." The unidentified informant also said that, in the numerous conversations after their first meeting, Masmari often expressed a "distaste for homosexual people,” and that Masmari "opined that homosexuals should be exterminated."

Masmari is being held on $1M bond on a single count of arson after being apprehended while trying to flee the country on a one-way ticket to Turkey. Last week the editor of Seattle Gay News demanded that charges be amended to include 750 counts of attempted murder. This latest disclosure may lead to federal hate crime charges.

SEATTLE: Editor Of Gay Paper Calls For Attempted Murder Charges In Arson Case

Shaun Knittel, the associate editor of Seattle Gay News, has published a column calling for 750 charges of attempted murder in the case of Musab Masmari [PHOTO], who was fleeing the country on a one-way ticket to Turkey when arrested for the New Year's Eve arson of a crowded gay nightclub. Masmari is being held on a single charge of arson with bail set at $1M.   From Knittel's column:

Information has surfaced that a witness had met with Musmari and spoken with him about the arson. Although Musmari never said why he started the fire, he did indicate that he didn't want to get into trouble, so once he saw that his photo and video surveillance footage had led to his being identified by witnesses, he bought a ticket to leave town. Luckily, Musmari never made the flight. He was arrested before he could reach Sea-Tac airport. I believe in innocent until proven guilty. And I expect the man to get a fair trial. But I also expect for Musmari to be charged with more than arson. There isn't a doubt in my mind that what he did was attempted murder of 750 people. I will attend the hearings and trial in hopes that justice will be served. The city, the nightclub, and the LGBTQ community are safer tonight with Musmari behind bars.

In his lengthy piece, Knittel, who is also a spokesperson for Neighbours, notes that the club was founded decades ago by the Egyptian family which owns it today. This had led some to speculate that the family knows Masmari, but the family denies ever having met him. Masmari has had numerous run-ins with other businesses in the area. According to local media, Masmari hold US and Libyan passports, both of which were confiscated upon his arrest.

POSTED: Initial Charges Against Seattle Gay Nightclub Arson Suspect

Below is the charging document in the case of Musab Marsmari, who is suspected in the New Year's Eve arson at the packed Seattle gay nightclub Neighbours.  Details of Masmari's actions and words in the days between the crime and his Saturday arrest are within. The FBI is investigating the fire as a possible hate crime. You'll likely need to make the document full-screen to read the small text.

$1M Bail Set For Seattle Arson Suspect, FBI Investigating As Possible Hate Crime

Bail has been set at $1M for Musab Masmari, the man suspected of setting a New Year's Eve fire at a packed Seattle gay nightclub, which the FBI is investigating as a possible hate crime. Via Capitol Hill Seattle:

Citing the risk of flight and pending outcomes in recent brushes with the law, a King County judge Tuesday set bail for the suspect arrested in the Neighbours arson investigation at $1 million. Police say Musmari was arrested leaving his home with his U.S. and Libyan passports and was in possession of a one-way airline ticket to Turkey. Tuesday, Musmari waived his right to appear at the hearing as his lawyer argued against the high bail. Prosecutors have yet to charge the 30-year-old former Capitol Hill resident who, according to a lawyer representing Musmari, last called Bellevue home. Tuesday, the FBI, working on the case as part of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, thanked the public for tips leading to Saturday’s arrest. The FBI said it is investigating the incident as a possible hate crime. Meanwhile, friends and victims of Musmari have described his increasingly volatile and unstable behavior over the past year.

Seattle Arson Suspect Was Headed To Turkey, First Court Appearance Is Today

According to a court document revealed yesterday, the suspect in the New Year's Eve arson at a packed Seattle gay nightclub was booked for a one-way flight to Turkey when he was arrested on Saturday on his way to the airport. Musab Masmari, 30, is scheduled to make his first court appearance today after a judge yesterday found probable cause to hold him on a charge of first degree arson. Masmari, who was born in Benghazi, Libya, has been arrested five times since May 2013 and police have not yet publicly speculated about his motive for setting the fire.

In related news, anti-Islam blogger Debbie Schlussel, who appears to be a clone of Pam Geller, yesterday claimed that Masmari is an "Obama State Department Arab cultural ambassador." Schluessel points to an article posted in 2011 to the website of Seattle's 911 Media Arts Center.

A delegation of Iraqi journalists and media professionals visited 911 Media Arts Center’s offices yesterday morning as part of an ongoing program through the World Affairs Council and the US Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). During the meeting 911 Media director Steven Vroom presented the workings of the organization to the group and fielded questions via two Arabic translators. The discussion primarily centered around the financial and practical workings of the organization, particularly the non-profit model in general and the income sources for a charitable new media center in an environment with little to no government funding for the arts. The concept of a community-driven media arts organization, and the idea of empowering individual voices through access and education, in the context of media independent from commercial or political interests was also discussed. Seattle resident Musab Masmari, a Libyan/US citizen, was also in attendance to act as a cultural ambassador on behalf of 911 Media Arts Center for the Arabic speaking visitors.

Schlussel idiotically describes the 911 Media Arts Center as "some sort of Muslim and/or leftist propaganda outfit to make us 'understand' the 'greatness' of Muslims and how they were the real victims of 9/11 terrorism and other dog poop endorsed by both the Obama and Bush Islamo-pandering State Departments." In fact, the 911 Media Arts Center was founded in 1984 and takes its name from the original address of its Seattle office, 911 Pine Street.

Despite Schlussel's nonsense, it will be interesting to learn if the man named in the above article is same man currently in custody. I've written to the 911 Media Arts Center to request further details.

Pam Geller On Seattle Nightclub Arson

"Where are the left wing, the gay and LGBT organizations denouncing the Islamic texts that inspire such mayhem and murder of gays? Where is that fierce gay leadership condemning Muslim oppression of gays under the sharia? Where are those brave activists who rushed to condemn me when I ran an ad campaign highlighting Muslim oppression of gays under the sharia? Gay marriage is their priority? Pathetic. Gay organizations in America say nothing, but loudly condemned my ad campaign highlighting Muslim oppression of gays under the sharia. Why haven’t we heard from SF City Council, the Human Rights Commission, SFHRC head Theresa Sparks, and the enemedia? They called my ads hate and issued a resolution against my organization for merely quoting Muslim political leaders, spiritual leaders and cultural voices in the Muslim community who call for the torture and death of gay people. No, instead, I was denounced by gay and transgender leaders in the US for our work to highlight the Muslim oppression of gays. Where are those 'human rights' hypocrites now?" - Anti-Islam blogger Pam Geller, responding to the Saturday arrest of a Libyan man for the New Year's Eve arson at a packed Seattle gay nightclub. The suspect has a history of crimes at local businesses and police have not yet speculated about his motive for the nightclub arson. For more about Geller's history, hit the post label with her name.

BREAKING: Seattle Police Arrest Suspected Arsonist Of Gay Nightclub

Seattle police have arrested the man that some suspect attempted to murder over 750 gay nightclub patrons by setting fire to the packed club moments after midnight on New Year's Eve. Via Capitol Hill Seattle:

Musab Mohamed Masmari, 30, was arrested Saturday morning as police say he was on his way to the airport. Masmari, who has not been charged with the crime, was booked into King County Jail for arson, according to police. Masmari has been a resident living near Broadway and Roy, but at a recent sentencing hearing he said he had since moved to the Eastside. His Facebook profile lists Benghazi, Libya as his hometown. He was listed as living in Lynnwood in early 2009. CHS learned Masmari has had a U.S. passport since at least 2010. Masmari is scheduled to appear in court Monday for an unrelated assault charge.

Police have not yet said if Masmari was attempting to flee the country and they have not released the destination of his flight. Masmari was identified late last month by local business owners after the police released surveillance images taken in the club on the night of the fire. Masmari has a long history of run-ins with local businesses. More from Capitol Hill Seattle:

Masmari has a record of Seattle assaults and arrests that increased in frequency starting last spring. Since the January 1st incident, several business owners in north Capitol Hill told CHS they have had run-ins with the man. Last April Masmari put a cigarette out in a man’s cheek as he entered the Lookout bar, one employee told CHS. “He was trying to come in with a cigarette, and the guy just told him he couldn’t do that, so he put it out in his cheek,” said Stevie Gayle, who was bar tending at the Lookout that night. A fight broke out outside the bar, but Gayle said Masmari fled before the police arrived. CHS spoke with a north Broadway business owner familiar with Masmari who said he talked with police after the pictures were released and tips began coming in to SPD’s arson and bomb squad detectives. The Broadway business owner said that he and others were forced to “86″ Masmari from their venues after run-ins in recent months.

With the limited information we have so far, my gut tells me that Seattle police had not yet fully built their case but were forced into today's action when they realized that Masmari was on his way to the airport. I'll update this post if more details become available. My previous seven reports on this story are here.

UPDATE: Here's the press release from Seattle police.

Seattle Police made an arrest this morning of a 30-year-old suspect wanted for the arson at Neighbours on January 1st. This morning, Seattle Police arrested the 30-year-old man near Seattle as he was enroute to the airport. Detectives from our Arson/Bomb Squad, working along with members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), have been investigating this case since the early morning hours of January 1st. Detectives would like to thank the public for all the tips they have received on the person of interest. Following his arrest, the suspect was interviewed by detectives and later booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Arson.

UPDATE II: Seattle station KING 5 has a video report.

Seattle's Gay Mayor On Nightclub Arson: Let The Police Do Their Job

"Less than an hour after I officially became Seattle's first gay mayor, there was an arson at Seattle's oldest gay nightclub with a potential for considerable loss of life. I am not just invested as the chief law enforcement officer of this city in bringing this case to justice, I am personally invested. But we also need to let our law enforcement professionals do their job, which they are doing with utmost diligence, caution, and concern for public safety. In the end, we want a conviction, and I'm asking for patience on the part of the public." - Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, responding to the public demands for action after a local man was identified as possibly being the arsonist in a New Year's Eve fire at a packed gay nightclub. The suspect has not been arrested.

SEATTLE: Possible Break In New Year's Eve Gay Nightclub Arson Attempt

Multiple news outlets in Seattle are reporting that the suspect in the New Year's Eve arson attempt at the popular gay nightclub Neighbours might have been identified. Reports conflict on whether the police have named the man as a "person of interest" or if they are just "interested in talking to him." The man being discussed is well-known to local business owners and has been arrested four times since last May. The Seattle Stranger yesterday posted the above photo from the man's Facebook page.

From the Stranger:

Seattle police confirmed in a voice mail today that the person of interest in the New Year's Eve arson case—in which a person allegedly poured gasoline on the stairs of a crowded gay nightclub and then lit it ablaze—is Musab Mohamed Masmari. The police estimated that some 750 people were inside Neighbours nightclub at the time of the arson attack. Several photos were posted on the SPD Blotter of a man carrying an object which may have been the gas can that was found later at the scene. The SPD chose not to release surveillance video, but Neighbours released security camera footage to local TV stations last weekend. They show what appears to be a man with receding hair and thick eyebrows walking around the club.

Seattle Municipal Court records show Masmari faced several criminal charges in 2013, including assault, violation of an anti-harassment order, property destruction, and obstructing a police officer. An active case concerns an assault for which Masmari was initially booked into jail in July 2013. A "guilty finding [was] entered" by a jury, according to records from the Seattle Municipal Court, and Masmari appeared in court for sentencing on January 16—three days after SPD posted the photos and more than two weeks after the arson incident. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and allowed to leave temporarily on work-release. He is due to appear in court for his jail sentence on February 18.

From Capitol Hill Seattle:

A north Broadway business owner and others who had run-ins with the man have identified a possible person of interest in the New Year’s arson at Neighbours nightclub. But police would not yet say whether they have questioned the man or if he is a suspect in the case. In an email to CHS, SPD spokesperson Detective Renee Witt said public affairs has not confirmed Masmari as a person of interest. “We have not confirmed anything with anyone simply because we don’t have that info. The subject in the pictures that detectives are interested in talking to on the Neighbours arson is just that- a person detectives are interested in talking to. We only name suspects.”

The business owner and others CHS has spoken to about the situation say the man is a familiar face for many on north Broadway. Two people familiar with the former Capitol Hill resident said they contacted police immediately after detectives released surveillance images of a man seen acting unusually inside the club as the flames broke out. CHS has reviewed reported assaults, an obstruction charge and no contact orders against him in a series of recent brushes with the law in the last year. CHS was in the courtroom last week when Masmari received a 30-day jail sentence following a recent conviction. Masmari told the judge he intends to participate in a work-release program to allow him to keep his job at a gas station. He was also ordered to undergo a mental evaluation. His lawyer said he planned to appeal the decision. Masmari declined to speak with CHS under advice of his attorney.

A spokesman for Neighbours is furious that Masmari has not yet been arrested.

"I think the police should bring him in for questioning," says Shaun Knittel, who is handling media for the Capitol Hill nightclub and is president of the gay-advocacy group Social Outreach Seattle. "I don’t understand the delay. What are they biding their time for?" "The community needs to feel safe," Knittel continues. "It's not just about Neighbours. If there is someone out there trying to hurt one business, then they might be willing to hurt another. This is the one guy they wanted to ID, and three weeks into this [investigation], they have a name. I don't get the game that they are playing." The Seattle Police Department's media bureau—which has several staffers—has not answered its telephone today, nor have SPD spokespeople responded to e-mails and voice mails seeking comments.

Watch a Seattle television report on this latest development.

More Photos Of Seattle Nightclub Arsonist

Seattle police have released more surveillance photos of the man suspected to have lit the fire at the popular gay nightclub Neighbours on New Year's Eve. The latest images show the man moving through the crowded bar while carrying a package that presumably held the gasoline used to douse the staircase leading to the second floor where over 700 patrons were celebrating.

SEATTLE: Video Shows Suspicious Man During Gay Nightclub Arson AttemptUPDATE: Stills From Video Released

A spokesman for Seattle's Neighbours nightclub says that the police are looking into a "suspicious person" recorded by surveillance cameras shortly before the New Year's Eve arson attempt. Via television station KING 5:

According to Shaun Knittel of Social Outreach Seattle, police are looking closely at surveillance video the club handed over after someone doused the stairs with gasoline and set them on fire. Knittel continues to act as Neighbour's spokesperson, a club he and others call a piece of LGBTQ history in Seattle. In 30 years, he says, they've never seen an attack like this. Police have yet to name any evidence that would identify the arson as a "biased crime," and they would not comment on the details of their ongoing investigation. Knittel reports reviewing surveillance video, in which he describes someone entering the bar during the midnight countdown and acting suspiciously. "They did not look like a nightclub customer, let's put it that way," he said. "They moved very quickly. They were in the building for less than ten minutes, came into the building, did what they had to do, and go." Knittel would not describe the video in detail to respect the work of detectives.

More from Capitol Hill Seattle:

A person with knowledge of the investigation into the New Year’s arson fire at the dance club says a person of interest has been spotted in surveillance video and images recorded as flames erupted inside the packed disco. According to the source who spoke with CHS on the condition of anonymity, the man can be seen entering the club just before midnight. Beneath his coat, he is believed to be carrying a canister of gasoline later found at the scene.

Police say that the gasoline container found at the scene was a one-liter size plastic bottle and not the regular gallon-size that earlier reports seemed to imply. The fire was set in a stairwell just as over 700 patrons on the upper floor were counting down to midnight.

UPDATE: Seattle police have released stills from the surveillance video and are asking for the public's help in identifying the man.

Seattle Nightclub To Stage NYE Redux

Seattle's gay nightclub Neighbours is inviting patrons back to finish the New Year's Eve party that was interrupted by an arsonist. From their Facebook page:

The staff and management at Neighbours Seattle would like to say THANK YOU to everyone that has been so understanding and supportive over the past few days; it was because of that support and outpouring of goodwill that we were able to open our doors once again. This nightclub has served this neighborhood and community for three decades and we aren't about to just crawl away!  We are pleased to announce that NEXT SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., 21+ and 2 a.m. - 4 a.m. 18+, we will have a CELEBRATE NEIGHBOURS PARTY where we will invite some of your favorite entertainers, finish the New Year's Party that we never got to complete, and more! 

Let's hope those two US soldiers are in the house this Saturday. There have no press reports about breaks in the case.