Suspicious Circumstances Surrounding Business Fire: Extra Coverage, Accelerant, First Responders Blocked

A Phoenix businessman was arrested on suspicion of setting a fire to his own warehouse to collect $120,050 in insurance money, state officials said. Mohamed Abdelrahman, 41, was arrested and later indicted by a State Grand Jury on charges of arson and insurance fraud, Attorney General Mark Brnovich said Wednesday. Abdelrahman’s furniture business was inside a leased commercial warehouse at 6845 N. 21st Ave., near Glendale and 19th avenues in Phoenix, Brnovich said. Abdelrahman is accused of having increased his existing property insurance policy and having taken out an additional policy just days before the fire, Brnovich said.