Man arrested in NYC firebombings

NEW YORK - A man who confessed to a string of New Year’s Day arson attacks at an Islamic cultural center and four other sites where he had personal grievances was arrested on a hate crime charge, police said.

Ray Lazier Lengend, 40, of Guyanese descent, hurled crude firebombs at the Islamic center in part because he was not allowed to use its bathrooms, a law enforcement official said.

He was tracked through a stolen car with Virginia license plates believed to be at the scene of at least two of the attacks Sunday evening. The attacks were on a convenience store, three homes, and the cultural center, police said.

He was arrested yesterday on charges including one count of arson as a hate crime, four counts of arson, and five counts of criminal possession of a weapon, they said.

Lengend, who lives in Queens, was taken to a hospital for a psychiatric examination last night. He remained in custody and could not be reached for comment.

Police spokesman Paul Browne said Lengend made statements implicating himself and had personal grievances with each targeted location.

The firebombs were tossed at the convenience store, two homes in Queens, a home in nearby Nassau County, and the Islamic center.

Authorities believe Lengend was kicked out of the convenience store on Dec. 27 for trying to steal a glass Starbucks Frappuccino bottle and milk.

Four of the five firebombs thrown at the various locations were made from glass Starbucks bottles, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said. The fifth was probably made from a beer bottle.

Witnesses reported the man made threats as he was escorted out of the store, Kelly said.

“When they were pushing him out of the store, he said words to the effect that, ‘We’re going to get even. We’re going to get back at you,’ ’’ Kelly said.

No one was injured in the attacks, which caused little or no damage at most of the sites.

The law enforcement official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing, said that Lengend bought five Frappuccinos and was given three for free the night of the attacks.