Persian Rug Shop Damaged by Fire in Arson Attack
CORONA DEL MAR — An arson attack at a Persian rug store shattered plate glass windows and damaged merchandise.
Police investigators said they do not know why someone poured a flammable liquid on the front doors of Orient Handel at 5:55 a.m. Friday and set lit ablaze. Police and the shop’s owner, Los Angeles resident Hashem Kermani, 49, said they did not know who attacked the store. “I wish I knew,” said Kermani, standing outside his damaged shop at 2421 E. Coast Highway. “I hope this is a onetime deal.”
Police said the flammable liquid seeped under the front doors and onto materials. Firefighters, alerted to the fire by a passerby, doused the blaze as it was filling the store with black smoke.
Kermani estimated the fire caused about $5,000 damage to his business, which contains hundreds of imported rugs.
No one was in the store at the time and no one was injured.
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