The Washington, D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) department on Friday confirmed that a man believed to be responsible for setting dozens of fires in the Capitol Hill neighborhood has been arrested by authorities.
The suspect has been identified as 50-year-old Mohammad Al-Rashidi, who allegedly set approximately 35 fires over the course of two months. It was not clear when the first fire occurred, but the most recent fires took place on Wednesday.
Al-Rashidi was previously arrested for arson on May 9, but was later released, according to WUSA-9.
Other fires were reported at and around Union Station on May 19, with four fires occurring within a one-mile radius of the location of a major fire at St. Joseph’s Church on May 3. They believed all four fires on May 19 were set by the same person.
“These fires are happening in the middle of the night,” D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said. “They’re happening where they could grow, and my fear is that one’s going to extend to a house and someone’s going to get hurt or lose their property. … This is a big problem.”
Al-Rashidi, who allegedly comes from Louisiana, appeared before a judge virtually on Friday, where he claimed that he was harassed by police and had a tracking device on him. He is expected to appear in court again on Monday.
Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.
