A nightclub in Bushwick, Brooklyn, was targeted by an arsonist Sunday night (April 3). A man wearing a black hoodie and a backpack covered the floor at Rash—a new venue that opened just five months ago—in a clear liquid and set it on fire, injuring two and causing significant damage to the building.
Rash co-owner Claire Bendiner told CBS New York, “He said that he was just dumping out water, that he was a cleaner or something like that, and then security questioned him a little more, and then apparently he escalated it, obviously, by lighting the place.” An event scheduled for that night had yet to begin, resulting in a relatively small crowd that quickly fled the venue; one bystander told Brooklyn Patch they were covered in ash and soot as smoke billowed from the club. Two people were injured by flames as they fled the scene and were taken to a local hospital for treatment.
A GoFundMe page set up to support staff, as well as cover medical bills and repairs—co-owner Jake Sillen told Resident Advisor the floors were “unsalvageable”—has raised more than $45,000 of its $200,000 goal.
Mayor Eric Adams of New York tweeted: “While this incident is still being investigated, make no mistake: anyone who comes into my city looking to spread fear and hatred will pay the consequences.”