German arrested in L.A. arsons declares, ‘I hate America’

Dan Whitcomb and Hillel Aron
Reuters
January 3, 2012

Police arrested a Hollywood resident believed to be a German citizen on Monday in connection with a wave of 53 arson fires across Los Angeles that terrorized neighborhoods over the holiday weekend.

Harry Burkhart, 24, was taken into custody early on Monday morning after a reserve sheriff’s deputy spotted him driving a van similar to one being sought after a string of fires set in Los Angeles, Hollywood and surrounding communities.

Authorities booked Burkhart on suspicion of arson  and said he was being held at Los Angeles County jail. Authorities declined to comment on a Los Angeles Times report that Burkhart was embroiled in an immigration dispute with the federal government over the status of his mother.

L. A. Weekly also quoted police sources that Burkhart declared “I hate America,” when he was detained.

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This article was posted: Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 8:49 am

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