Arson charges filed as community rallies behind Minneapolis ice cream shop targeted by firebombings

Firomsa Ahmed Umar, 30, has been charged with felony arson for allegedly firebombing Fletcher’s Ice Cream and Cafe in Minneapolis twice within a 15-hour period. The criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court does not reveal a motive for the attacks, and Umar awaits a court hearing while being held on $100,000 bail. Community support for the ice cream shop surged following the incidents, with many visitors expressing solidarity, particularly members of the LGBTQ community. Owner Jason Fletcher noted the emotional impact of the support, saying it brought him to tears. The shop, which prominently displays a Pride flag, has raised suspicions about whether the vandalism was a hate crime.

Dan Borgertpoepping from the County Attorney’s Office stated that the investigation is ongoing, with no current evidence pointing to a specific motive. The Northeast Minneapolis neighborhood, historically low in criminal incidents, is experiencing an uptick in crime, including an 80% surge in larcenies this year. Local business owners emphasized that such incidents should not tarnish the area's reputation.