'Ninja' arsonists suspected in blaze

DANIEL TEPFER ConnPost Article Last Updated: 08/20/2008 11:11:41 PM EDT

BRIDGEPORT — Police and fire officials Wednesday continued to investigate the firebombing of an East Side business that has a towing contract with the city.

A city fire official confirmed that individuals tossed incendiary devices over the fence at Connecticut Mustang LLC, 5 Grant St., late Monday.

The fire destroyed about 25 vehicles that had been towed to the business and damaged the sheet metal-sided building.

"They have some cameras on the building which, I believe, have some images of ninja-type arsonists who may have firebombed the building," Fire Capt. Luis Rivera said Wednesday. "Maybe a disgruntled person; it could be a number of things."

This was the second time in two years that arson has struck the property. In 2006, according to Rivera, a car at the facility was set on fire. No one was arrested in that incident.

Robert Parisi, the owner of Connecticut Mustang, did not return calls for comment.

It could not be immediately determined whether any of the destroyed vehicles were towed because their owners owed back taxes to the city or if they had been abandoned.

City officials did not return calls seeking comment.