New evidence suggests 12th and Vliet fire may have been intentional

MILWAUKEE -- There is new evidence that the massive fire that gutted a Milwaukee grocery store may not have been an accident.

The state has subpoenaed ADT Security for surveillance video from the Food Castle grocery store. The store caught fire near 12th and Vliet about two weeks ago.

According to the subpoena, the video shows two men entering the building five minutes before smoke was seen coming from the building.

The men were apparently in the building for about two minutes.

The subpoena indicates the video and other evidence provided by ADT may point to arson.

The fire destroyed the 120-year-old building. The fire was linked with a garage fire in Oak Creek that occurred the same day.

Records list Jamil Sarsour of Franklin as the owner of the property, and several other properties along Vliet.

Jamil Sarsour was speaking with investigators near the Vliet Street fire scene when he received a call alerting him that his brother’s home was also on fire. Oak Creek firefighters responded to a fire at the home of Sarsour’s brother, Imad — who also owns properties on Vliet.

The family initially told FOX6 News they believed the fires to be coincidence.

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