NATION : Fire Hits U.S. Arab’s Restaurant
A fire believed to be arson today heavily damaged a restaurant owned by a Palestinian immigrant and U.S. Army veteran who has been a vocal advocate of a peaceful settlement in the Persian Gulf.
Investigators found flammable materials inside the locked restaurant and no signs of forced entry, said Detective Sgt. John Fatchette of the state fire marshal’s office in Jackson.
Kareem Khouri estimated damage to his Dairy Queen restaurant at $250,000 to $500,000.
Police Chief Arthur Gunter said suspicions were aroused that the fire was an ethnic attack because on Saturday vandals threw paint balloons at the restaurant and spray-painted the words “USA No. 1!” on the walls.
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