LA arson suspect in anti-US court rant

Los Angeles arson suspect Harry Burkhart exploded in an expletive-laced anti-American court outburst after his mother was arrested on fraud charges from their native Germany.

The next day, police say, the 24-year-old began a night-time rampage of arson attacks that terrorised America’s second largest city.

A law enforcement official said authorities believe pony-tailed, Hollywood resident Burkhart went on the arson spree, starting more than 50 fires, because he was angry over his mother’s legal troubles.

Court documents unsealed yesterday said Dorothee Burkhart, who is in her 50s, was charged with 19 counts of fraud in Frankfurt, including failing to pay for a 2004 breast-augmentation operation and pilfering security deposits from renters.

In a brief US court appearance, she appeared perplexed, wondering aloud if her son was dead.

At one point, she said he was mentally ill and questioned whether Nazis knew where she and her son lived.

“Where is my son? What did you do to my son?” she asked US Magistrate Judge Margaret Nagle.

Harry Burkhart is being held without bail after being arrested on suspicion of arson on Monday.

Outside his apartment, some neighbours described him as a loner who loitered around the busy commercial strip at night and could be heard arguing with his mother.

But Shlomo Elady, a hair stylist who regularly trimmed Burkhart’s long hair, recalled someone who spoke three languages, dreamed of visiting Jerusalem and cared for a sickly mother who had trouble walking.

Mr Elady said he was stunned that the man who lived with his mother above his Sunset Boulevard shop was suspected of torching vehicles, some just steps from his home. The fires caused an estimated $3m (€2.3m) in damage.

“He loved his mom, the way every son loves his mom,” Mr Elady said. “He’s not a creepy guy.”

Burkhart was taken into custody after authorities received a tip from federal officials who recognised him in a security video that showed a pony-tailed man emerging from a garage where a car was set ablaze.

“When they saw the security footage, they recognised him and they contacted the arson task force,” a US State Department official said.

Burkhart arrived in the US in October and his non-immigrant visa is set to expire on January 18, authorities said. His mother last entered the country lawfully in January 2007 and she left four months later.

A government law enforcement official said Harry Burkhart was present when his mother was held on December 28 on a provisional arrest warrant – normally issued when there are criminal charges pending overseas against someone.

While she was in court last Thursday, her son launched an obscenity-laden tirade, saying: “F*** the United States!” said Thom Mrozek, spokesman at the US Attorney’s office in Los Angeles.

Mr Mrozek said Burkhart was detained and later escorted from the court. He said Burkhart did not make any specific threats against anyone or property at his mother’s court hearing.

Galina Illarionova, who lives in the same apartment complex as the suspect, said through a Russian translator that an agitated Burkhart visited her on Sunday and said his mother was in trouble with authorities and wanted Ms Illarionova to attend a legal hearing with him, but he later said he did not need her help.

A domain name for a website offering appointment-only sensual massage is registered to Dorothee Burkhart. Her name is not mentioned on the website, which states the service is not prostitution.

The series of fires appeared to have stopped with Burkhart’s arrest. The onslaught of intentionally set fires kept residents anxious over the holiday weekend in some of the most densely populated areas of the city.

One of Saturday’s fires occurred at the Hollywood and Highland entertainment complex, a popular tourist destination bordered by the Walk of Fame in a neighbourhood that includes Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

Damaged buildings included a former home of Doors singer Jim Morrison.

There were no serious injuries reported.