Arrest made in back-to-back firebomb attacks on Minneapolis ice cream shop

A suspect has been arrested after firebombs were thrown at a Minneapolis ice cream shop twice in less than 15 hours, damaging the property but causing no injuries.

Fletcher’s Ice Cream and Cafe on E. Hennepin Avenue near University Avenue was targeted shortly after staff locked up for the night about 10:45 p.m. Sunday, then again around 1 p.m. Monday, a day it is typically closed, owner Jason Fletcher said.

Police said the suspect, a 30-year-old man from Fridley, is believed to be involved in both incidents. He was found in a vehicle at 4:25 p.m. Monday near 4th Street and 15th Avenue SE., about a mile from the shop.

The man remains jailed Tuesday on suspicion of arson and has yet to be charged. The Minnesota Star Tribune generally does not identify suspects before they are charged.

A motive has not been determined, police said, but Fletcher said he suspected the attack was related to a gay Pride flag prominently displayed on the building.

“We’re not sure if it’s because of the all-inclusive gay Pride flag,” he said. “But it appears that it may be.”

Minneapolis police and fire officials and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have collected evidence at the scene, police said in a statement.

People from nearby Mac’s Industrial Sports Bar dashed to the scene and put the fire out, Fletcher said.

The last of the shop’s employees had left about six minutes earlier, Fletcher said.

In Monday’s incident, the same person “did the same thing. But the wick fell out,” Fletcher said.

Fletcher said the bottle cracked one of the window panes but did not go through.

Mayor Jacob Frey, who is a regular customer, stopped in after the second incident.

Regular business hours are planned for the shop on Tuesday, Fletcher said.

As for past trouble at the store: “We have our occasional people coming who steal tips and harass people,” but nothing close to these incidents, he said. “It just kind of comes with the territory of running a business in the city.”