ARSON INVESTIGATION: Firefighters distributing flyers door-to-door

If you live on or near 35th SW, in Gatewood, High Point, and some distance north, you might have received this flyer:

In case you hadn’t seen it, we wanted to show you that flyer, sent to us by multiple readers who have received it from firefighters going door-to-door tonight, in the wake of two arsons – the two cars set on fire in the Sylvan Ridge area early Sunday (WSB coverage here), and the fire set early today at 35th/Holly, the Seattle Housing Authority office building whose other tenants include a mosque (WSB morning coverage here; afternoon coverage of the flareup that further damaged the building is here). As of this afternoon, investigators were saying they had NOT found any evidence to link the two cases, so far; no word of any arrests, or even subject descriptions, yet.

Hand raised October 19, 2015 (7:51 pm)

Sobam I to understand that the SHA office has other tenants beyond a mosque? It would be of interest to those of us, perhaps, who aren’t familiar with the Highpoint Community. Have authorities said something about a mosque connection???

WSB October 19, 2015 (8:48 pm)

It’s in our morning coverage. SPD does NOT believe anyone in the building was targeted – the mosque, SHA, or anyone else.

trickycoolj October 20, 2015 (9:15 am)

Thanks for this. I live in High Point between the two incidents and didn’t receive anything. Was not excited about putting out my recycle cart full of combustibles last night.

Sara October 20, 2015 (10:21 am)

Thanks for the info. Do you know of a way (contact info?) to get a card and some flowers to the people at the mosque? My neighbors and myself who live very close by want to let them know we are sorry and are in solidarity with them. Thank you!

WSB October 20, 2015 (10:29 am)

I can’t find a phone number, but checking Twitter, it seems the local CAIR chapter http://www.cairseattle.org was very avidly following the story, so you might call to ask (and if you do find out, please share) – 206.367.4081

westseattledood October 20, 2015 (2:12 pm)

Sara – I bet if you just bring the flowers by with a note expressing your sentiments, they will graciously and gratefully accept them. If nobody is around, just leave the same on the steps near the entrance.

In the 911 aftermath, a mosque in North Seattle was victimized and terrorized by some very misguided people. We dropped off flowers with a note expressing our allegiance to our good neighbors. The media grabbed a shot of that and soon there were hundreds of other vases with flowers there. The mosque community was very grateful for the support.

Good on you for extending a neighborly hand in a troubling situation.

Kim October 20, 2015 (2:57 pm)

Sara, what a thoughtful idea! Our neighbors who go to pray several times a day are just lovely, I would hate for them to think they are unwelcome in this neighborhood.

Sara October 20, 2015 (4:56 pm)

Thanks, WSB, westseattledood and Kim- I called CAIR Seattle but the person who answered the phone said he didn’t know about the fire but would get back to me if he could find contact info. In the meantime, I think I will leave a card, etc. at the entrance and hope it gets into the right hands.

Sara October 22, 2015 (4:52 pm)

Through CAIR, I was able to get in touch with the Imam for the mosque, Osman Yusuf and I met with him today. If anyone else is interested in connecting with him, his number is 206-388-6315. The mosque community is temporarily gathering at the Neighborhood House nearby. They are hoping to be back in their building in the next month.

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