Afghan-Born Restaurant Owner
Set On Fire in Indianapolis

TERRY HORNE & TOM SPALDING / Indianapolis Star 26mar03

Investigators are trying to determine who set fire to a South-east-side restaurant, badly burning its owner and causing more than $150,000 in damage.

The owner of the Eastern Kitchen Buffet, Abdullah Naderi, 37, who is from Afghanistan, was in the business when the fire broke out about 10:15 p.m. Monday in a recently constructed strip mall at 6815 S. Emerson Ave.

Franklin Township Fire Chief Paul Bailey said Naderi fled to a still-open coffee shop elsewhere in the mall.

"He gave some information, which we're not able to release right now," Bailey said.

Naderi suffered second- and third-degree burns on 60 percent of his body and was taken to Wishard Memorial Hospital in critical condition, said Marion County Sheriff's Sgt. Claire Stipe, whose department is also investigating the fire.

Inside the restaurant, investigators found three 21/2-gallon gasoline cans, a pry bar, rope, aerosol cans and a disposable lighter.

Bailey said Naderi told officials he was cleaning up in a kitchen area when two people burst in and set him on fire. He said investigators are trying to gather evidence at the scene to confirm Naderi's account. Some statements to firefighters were somewhat contradictory.

Any evidence collected will go to the Marion County Crime Lab.

Bailey said investigators have been unable to confirm reports of people loitering by the restaurant shortly before the fire.

Asked if the arson might have been a hate crime motivated by Naderi's nationality or the restaurant's cuisine, Bailey said investigators hadn't ruled out the possibility but that other motives remain under investigation.

Naderi's restaurant was the first business to open in the strip mall. According to the Marion County Health Department, he obtained his restaurant license Feb. 14. Several other tenants had since moved in.

Calls to Naderi's home weren't returned.

Bailey estimated damage to the building at $150,000 to $200,000, not including smoke damage to neighboring businesses.

Reports on bias crimes are kept by Indiana State Police. In 2002, Indianapolis police investigated 13 race-related incidents, as well as three related to ethnicity and one to religion. The Marion County Sheriff's Department investigated one racial complaint and one pertaining to religion.

Investigators ask anyone with information on the fire to call 1-317-231-8477 or 1-317-780-1700, Ext. 19.

Afghan tells officials he was set on fire

South Bend Tribune 27mar03

An Afghan businessman told investigators two intruders set him on fire as he was cleaning his restaurant.

Abdullah Naderi, 37, suffered second- and third-degree burns on 60 percent of his body in the attack Monday, said Marion County Sheriff's Sgt. Claire Stipe.

Naderi was taken to Wishard Memorial Hospital in critical condition. His condition was not immediately available Wednesday.

Authorities were investigating the possibility that the fire may have been a hate crime, Franklin Township Fire Chief Paul Bailey said.

Naderi told police he was cleaning the kitchen at the Eastern Kitchen Buffet, which he owns, about 10:15 p.m. when two people entered the restaurant and set him on fire.

Naderi fled to a nearby coffee shop that was still open, authorities said.

The fire caused as much as $200,000 in damage to the restaurant, and smoke damage to nearby businesses, investigators said.

American-Islamic Relations Wants FBI Probe

TOM SPALDING / Indianapolis Star 26mar03

A Washington, D.C.-based Islamic civil rights group today called on federal authorities to aid the investigation of a restaurant fire in Franklin Township that left a Muslim businessman with burns over 60 percent of his body.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations made the announcement despite the fact that investigators aren't sure the motive.

Abdullah Naderi, 37, the owner of the Eastern Kitchen Buffet, who is from Afghanistan, was in the business when the fire broke out about 10:15 p.m. Monday in a recently constructed strip mall at 6815 S. Emerson Ave.

Franklin Township Fire Chief Paul Bailey said Naderi told officials he was cleaning up in a kitchen area when two people burst in and set him on fire. He said investigators are trying to gather evidence at the scene to confirm Naderi's account. Some statements to firefighters were somewhat contradictory.

"We're not going to change our procedures," said Bailey, who said he spoke to the advocacy group. "If they want to bring somebody in, that's their prerogative. We're still investigating it as an arson ... if in fact everything went down the way (Naderi) says it did, it's still an arson, but could be a hate crime."

Local authorities would benefit from the resources and expertise of the FBI, CAIR officials say.

"Federal involvement would also help reassure the Muslim community in Indiana that their safety is a priority," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad in a statement.

The Marion County Sheriff's Department is also investigating, and spokeswoman Sgt. Claire Stipe said re-interviewing Naderi is a key goal. That's not possible now as he is heavily sedated and in critical condition at Wishard Memorial Hospital because of burns.

Stipe said records show no previous calls for the police at the restaurant, which would indicate prior problems.

Ibrahim Hooper, CAIR communications director, said it isn't unusual for a prejudiced individual to act impulsively.

"This isn't an organized thing the way the KKK was," he said, "It's just somebody frustrated who sees the news."

Calls to Naderi's home today went unanswered.

In 2002, Indianapolis police investigated 13 race-related incidents, as well as three related to ethnicity and one to religion. The Marion County Sheriff's Department investigated one racial complaint and one pertaining to religion.