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Series Of Fires Strikes Hollywood Shopping Center

HOLLYWOOD (CBS4) - The state fire marshal has been asked to investigate a series of fires at a Hollywood shopping center and victims are hoping they are not the targets of a hate crime.

The latest blaze broke out early Sunday morning at the Emerald Center. Hollywood Fire Rescue Division Chief Joel Medina tells CBS4's Peter D'Oench it was a "suspicious fire." And it was the third one at the same shopping center in less than two years.

The center is located in a heavily Orthodox Jewish neighborhood at 5650 Stirling Road.

"It's terrible. I don't what it is," said Liran Hassin, whose real estate business next door has smoke damage. "If it's a hate crime, it's not fun. It's not good for the plaza. It's not good for business. I'd like to know who's behind this and doing this. Hopefully we can get some better police presence overnight to see if we can get the people who are causing a lot of damage."

It's not known if police patrols will be stepped up in the area.

Hassin, who is the co owner of the Wharton Realty Group, said, "Definitely, people should come forward and report what they know so that the people responsible can pay a price. Right now we are going to hang in there."

Maymon Atias told CBS4 that he can't work at the nearby Allure Hair Salon because it also has smoke damage.

"It's bad," he said. "We are losing money. Sure I'm upset. What do I do."

The fire gutted the Achla Pita Grill and the Bon Ami Café. The owner of both restaurants, Ilan Timianski, told D'Oench that he has no insurance.

It was just a year ago in September of of 2012 that Hollywood Police released surveillance tape of two masked arsonists in hoodies setting the store on fire with some flammable liquid.

Police say those suspects were never identified but showed similarities to two arsonists caught on camera setting fire to Michael Katz's Holyland Judaic store in the same plaza in December of 2011.

It's not known if there is any surveillance tape to release of what happened before and during this latest fire that was reported at 1:20 on Sunday morning.

"Obviously I'd like to get to the bottom of this and know that things are coming to an end," said Katz.

"People think there's anti Semitism," he said. "I don't know if there's anti Semitism. The anti semites would have made sure we know it's anti Semitism. They would have left some graffiti or something to let us know it's not just vandalism."

"I don't know the cause of this fire or if it's connected," he said.

Anyone who help the authorities is urged to call Broward Crimestoppers at 954 493-TIPS (8477). Callers will remain anonymous and can be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

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