Community Risk

NJ Man Facing Federal Charges for Queens Lounge Fire

Jan. 25, 2021

The FDNY released surveillance video of a man setting several fires inside a Queens hookah lounge over the summer, and he faces up to 20 years in prison.

By John Annese

Source New York Daily News

Asif Raja, 54, is seen on surveillance video pouring an accelerant on tables at a hookah lounge in Queens, NY, before setting several fires on Aug. 4, 2021.

A New Jersey man was caught on video as he methodically set several fires inside a Queens hookah lounge over the summer, FDNY officials said Sunday.

Video released by the FDNY shows Asif Raja, 54, pour a flammable liquid on several tables at the Ignited Restaurant & Lounge in Astoria on Aug. 4, FDNY officials said.

He then ran table to table, lighted each one on fire, headed into the kitchen, and turned off the light before leaving the Steinway St. restaurant, the video shows.

The sprinkler system apparently put out the fires before firefighters arrived, and no one was injured officials said.

Fire marshals said that water from the sprinkler activation, as well as small separate fires throughout the structure that were extinguished prior to their arrival, did most of the damage. The incident was brought under control without any injuries to civilians or FDNY members.

Fire Marshals arrested Raja with the help of an ATF task force.

Raja will be charged with arson in Brooklyn federal court, and could face five to 20 years behind bars, FDNY officials said.

FDNY representatives refused to say Sunday night how Raja was connected to the lounge or why they believe he lit it ablaze.

The lounge’s Instagram page announced back in March that it was temporarily closed due to the pandemic, and it hasn’t posted an update on the social media site since.

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