It is also known for being packed late into the night, according to NBC New York. Since the bar opened nearly five months ago, it has become a staple in LGBTQ nightlife and a refuge for queer young adults and performers. “It’s easy to see why our space would be an easy target for someone looking to do harm to the queer community,” they said, adding that in Rash Bar, “people feel safe to be themselves, and it’s a shame that anybody would do anything to threaten this.” “It could easily turn out to be a motive that we aren’t expecting.” “I don’t want to jump to any conclusions, because we don’t know anything about the person that did this,” Sillen said. The bar’s owner declined to comment on the suspect’s intentions but noted that serving a large LGBTQ clientele makes the space vulnerable. Police are still investigating a motive for the incident, and no arrests have been made. Police are reviewing surveillance footage that shows someone filling up a gas can minutes before the fire. Wasn’t knocked over or anything,” they told NBC New York. Kind of calmly placed it on the bar counter. The bar was left unrecognizable and torched, NBC New York reported.īendiner, who uses they/them pronouns, said the suspect boldly left behind evidence. “The side door has a glass front, and I looked over and saw flames to the top of ceiling. “Everyone rushed out,” Bendiner told NBC New York. Claire Bendiner, a co-owner of Rash, had just stepped outside when the fire broke out.
