EVERETT – A second man was arrested Tuesday in connection with an arson that gutted a Pakistani-owned market July 9.
Naveed Muhammad Kahn allegedly helped the manager of Continental Spices burn the store down for the insurance money, federal court documents say.
Police suspect manager Mizra Akram offered Kahn, a close friend, $2,000 to burn the store, court papers allege.
Kahn told investigators he “refused to take the money because it made him feel like more of a criminal and agreed to help out of friendship,” court documents state.
Kahn, a U.S. Navy sailor based in Bremerton, told police Akram poured gasoline throughout the store and asked him to check to see if the fire was burning.
It wasn’t, and when he tipped over some burning incense to light the gasoline, the blaze caught one leg of Kahn’s pants on fire, court documents say.
Kahn, who wasn’t burned, then returned to his base.
Kahn told investigators it must have been Akram who spray-painted a white cross and an anti-Arab message on the inside of the store to mislead police.
Akram, who was working to buy the market, allegedly told Kahn the store was in trouble financially and burned it to recoup his losses.
The market at 315 E. Casino Road sold groceries and spices from the Middle East. Akram was buying it from Seattle-based Za Trading Co. He’d already paid $52,800 and owed at least $32,200 more.
Kahn, who was in U.S. Navy custody on an unrelated charge, was arrested by federal agents Tuesday. He made his first appearance in U.S. District Court in Seattle later that day.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.