Author Topic: Investigators say arsonist might be mentally unstable (Muhamed alert)  (Read 1180 times)

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Offline The Village Idiot

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A Muhamed who is on an immigration hold.... hhhmmmm

http://www.kvue.com/news/Investigators-say-arsonist-may-be-mentally-disturbed-94005949.html

New information tonight about the man who confessed to setting fire to a Southeast Austin hotel. Arson investigators here say the man is a Moroccan National who went to school at St. Edward's in the 90's and who hasn't lived in the United States in eight years.  His motive for setting the fire remains a mystery tonight.

Flames and billowing black smoke poured out of the America's Best Value Inn Sunday.  A day later, hotel guests relived the harrowing moments as they escaped the fire.

"The second time we opened the door, there were people bailing," said Jennifer Castanon, who escaped the fire.  "By the time we grabbed our purses to get out, the hallway was filled with smoke. It was hard to breathe, hard to see hard to get out."

Investigators say 33-year-old Mohamed Lahlou, who checked into the hotel on Friday, confessed to starting the fire in his third floor room. They say he then drove to Downtown Austin where he stayed for several hours before calling 911.

Investigators say prior to checking into the hotel, Lahlou stayed two weeks at this hostel along Lakeshore Boulevard in Southeast Austin.  While arson investigators say Lahlou has not told them why he set the fire, Battalion Chief Aaron Woolverton of the Austin Fire Department says a federal agency has provided information about Lahlou.

"We do have some indications that he may have been emotionally disturbed,"  he said..

Lahlou now has an immigration detainer as well as a first degree charge of arson because one person suffered smoke inhalation.  The hotel was built before sprinklers were required under city fire code. Some hotel guests say they did not have smoke detectors in their rooms -- an allegation firefighters are investigating.  If the hotel owner rebuilds, he will have to include a sprinkler system and several other upgrades under the current fire code