Gas Leak Suspected Cause of Minneapolis ‘Little Mogadishu’ Explosion, Fire

Posted on | January 2, 2014 | 54 Comments

Lee Stranahan pointed out that the Minneapolis neighborhood where there was an explosion and fire Wednesday is known as “Little Mogadishu” because of its largely Somali population. The building where the blast happened is next door to a mosque. Concern about a possible terror connection seems logical, but officials tell the Minneapolis Star-Tribune they believe the explosion was an accident:

Investigators believe that the fire that tore through a three-story apartment building in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood on New Year’s Day was caused by a natural gas leak, according to sources familiar with the probe.
While no final determination has been made, a source close to the law enforcement investigation said that it is believed that the initial explosion occurred at the ground level of the building.
Homeland Security personnel were on the scene in the aftermath of the fire that sent 14 people to hospitals, six in critical condition.
They were there to determine if there was anything suspicious about the explosion. But investigators believe that the description of a fireball and early evidence at the scene match what typically happens in a gas explosion, investigators believe, the source said.

(The involvement of DHS investigators shows how obvious it was to suspect this might have been a terror-related incident.)

In addition to trying to determine the cause, authorities searched the late-1800s building for the handful of residents still unaccounted for a day later. . . .
At least 14 people were injured, six critically in the explosion and fire about 8:15 a.m. Wednesday that destroyed an immigrant-owned grocery store and the 10 apartments above it in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. . . .
Family members and friends reported that three or four others known to have lived in the apartments have not been located and were feared dead. . . .
The building housed the Otanga grocery store. The apartments above it were apparently all occupied by single men, most of them East African immigrants, a resident said.

So far, then, this seems to be merely an accident.

Category: Minnesota

Comments

54 Responses to “Gas Leak Suspected Cause of Minneapolis ‘Little Mogadishu’ Explosion, Fire”

Benjamin Dover
January 2nd, 2014 @ 3:23 pm

We should probably expect heavy fighting between the Somalis and the central Americans, at some point.
richard mcenroe
January 2nd, 2014 @ 3:27 pm

Believe that who will.
Joe Dokes
January 2nd, 2014 @ 4:06 pm

A report this morning said they ruled out a gas leak.
Evi L. Bloggerlady
January 2nd, 2014 @ 4:14 pm

I like the term “Act of God” myself.

Hum’duallah! Insha’llah!
Maybe this should be called an “Act of God” | Batshit Crazy News
January 2nd, 2014 @ 4:18 pm

[…] TOM: What caused this explosion in “Little Mogadishu” Minneapolis, Minnesota? […]
storibund
January 2nd, 2014 @ 4:24 pm

Except earlier, local gas officials had stated that there were no gas leaks in the area: http://gatesofvienna.net/2014/01/enter-dhs-it-was-a-gas-leak/

Curious.
jakee308
January 2nd, 2014 @ 4:36 pm

Probably an illegally divided dwelling, an illegal and faulty gas line hook up and/or faulty electric hook up.

We forget sometimes that the gov’t does have some uses. Preventing dangerous practices in living accommodations is one of them.
Evi L. Bloggerlady
January 2nd, 2014 @ 5:25 pm

Not letting dangerous Somalis into the country is another.
JeffS
January 2nd, 2014 @ 6:21 pm

Does Bill Ayers have a girlfriend in the neighborhood?

Just askin’.
jusprintmoemoney
January 2nd, 2014 @ 7:42 pm

“So far”!
Steve Skubinna
January 2nd, 2014 @ 8:04 pm

Yeah, maybe.

But how far are you willing to trust the government? What makes you think that this time, just this once, they’re gonna try telling the truth about something for a change, just to see how it works?
Zohydro
January 2nd, 2014 @ 8:07 pm

I thought in most of the Somalis in America lived in Lewiston and Portland (Maine)…
Zohydro
January 2nd, 2014 @ 8:14 pm

I’m going to kill myself…
strongamerica2
January 2nd, 2014 @ 9:46 pm

RT @smitty_one_each: TOM Gas Leak Suspected Cause of Minneapolis ‘Little Mogadishu’ Explosion, Fire http://t.co/tWIRT7vjUF #TCOT
WTD
January 2nd, 2014 @ 8:55 pm

HS, FBI, ATF investigate natural gas explosions unrelated to terror? And the general public is expected to believe that “Minneapolis police confirmed officers were at the same address earlier Wednesday morning, but said it was a separate service call that was unrelated to the explosion.”
…given the following earlier report:
“Ahmed Muse, one of five owners of the grocery store, said he arrived at the store at 8 a.m. There was what he called “an electrical shock” in the building, and police were called. When he went outside to talk to the officers, an explosion erupted on the second floor, blowing out the windows and scattering glass on the street below. A police squad car reported the fire at around 8:16 a.m., Nelson said”
johncunningham
January 2nd, 2014 @ 8:56 pm

au contraire, MN has a Somali populatikon of 32K, the largest of any state. many of them are successful entrepreneurs in the prostitution and drug industries. they provide many jihadis in the service of Allah.
Evi L. Bloggerlady
January 2nd, 2014 @ 9:10 pm

God does have a sense of humor.

I always found it…disconcerting…how Somalis like to work at airports. I know we are not supposed to profile people, but a very Muslim group that is prone to extremism and terrorism working at airports? Call me crazy.
M. Thompson
January 2nd, 2014 @ 9:25 pm

It’s why I’m concerned about local security, and that group rioting/causing an incident. You bet your ass the Red Star-Tribune will whitewash it as well as the AP.

Also, when the apartment building fire alarm goes off, they hide in the entryway or in their apartments. Downside of importing barbarians.
Zohydro
January 2nd, 2014 @ 9:26 pm

That explains a joke I’d heard — that the Somali cabbies in Portland only know how to get to the airport…
Dandapani
January 2nd, 2014 @ 9:33 pm

I have never received an answer why the frell has the USA allowed so many Somali’s to immigrate to this country? Don’t we already have enough surly taxi drivers?
Dandapani
January 2nd, 2014 @ 9:35 pm

Quite a few live in Columbus, Ohio. I see a number like 45K “in Ohio”.
WTD
January 2nd, 2014 @ 9:42 pm

Info from two separate articles suggest one of the five property owners is missing …“Omar Hassan approached police Inspector Medaria Arradondo after the news conference. His friend Ahmed Farah Ali lived in the building and hasn’t been found. Neither Ali nor his roommate was answering their cellphone. His uncle in Connecticut hadn’t heard from him, and he wasn’t at Hennepin County Medical Center, where some victims were taken, Hassan said.
No one by that name had been admitted to the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, on Riverside Avenue S., or North Memorial Medical Center, either.”

&

Farah Ahmed said his brother, his uncle and his friends own Otanga Grocery, which was consumed by the blaze.twin cities link
&. “Omar Hassan approached police Inspector Medaria Arradondo after the news conference. His friend Ahmed Farah Ali lived in the building and hasn’t been found. Neither Ali nor his roommate was answering their cellphone. His uncle in Connecticut hadn’t heard from him, and he wasn’t at Hennepin County Medical Center, where some victims were taken, Hassan said.” star tribune link
richard mcenroe
January 2nd, 2014 @ 9:51 pm

“Previous statements are inoperative.”
richard mcenroe
January 2nd, 2014 @ 9:53 pm

Don’t know how much gas they were innocently cooking with, but sounds like they got pretty good loft on that one…
robcrawford2
January 2nd, 2014 @ 10:08 pm

They’re let in for the same reason they allow millions of illegals in — to dilute the American culture. Remember, a British Labour Party memo was found saying their INTENTION for favoring unlimited immigration was to dilute the British culture. The intent, frankly, is to outnumber the free-thinking people with those used to behaving as serfs.
robcrawford2
January 2nd, 2014 @ 10:09 pm

Does Bret Kimberlin’s ex have a relative in the area?
Alan Markus
January 2nd, 2014 @ 11:22 pm

HS, FBI, ATF investigate natural gas explosions unrelated to terror?

Indeed they typically do until the actual cause has been determined. It makes sense to be there as soon as the event has occurred, not wait days or weeks for the cause to be established, and then try to chase down leads and evidence.
Tyrconnell
January 2nd, 2014 @ 11:24 pm

DHS, FBI and ATF are looking to see if they can, if only temporary, pin this on the right.
Socialism: Organized Evil
January 2nd, 2014 @ 11:50 pm

Very likely, it seems.
Jimilee
January 3rd, 2014 @ 12:26 am

BOOMER!!!!

Let me be completely succinct BWAHAHAHAH!

Sooners just beat the best team in the country.

7 sacks for the game. ‘Bama only allowed 11 for the entire season.
andycanuck
January 3rd, 2014 @ 12:36 am

I think Robert should have typed “Gas Leak” in scare quotes rather than ‘Little Mogadishu’.
Massa Bill de Blasio, Comin’ Fo’ Ta Carry Me Home? | Regular Right Guy
January 3rd, 2014 @ 1:58 am

[…] Gas Leak Suspected Cause of Minneapolis ‘Little Mogadishu’ Explosion, Fire […]
Adjoran
January 3rd, 2014 @ 2:12 am

They were given special processing of asylum requests after Mogadishu.
Adjoran
January 3rd, 2014 @ 2:15 am

They’ve had troubles there because the license for an airport taxi requires them to accept any passenger, but the Somalis refuse to transport anyone with liquor, women “not properly covered and unaccompanied,” and Jews. I think it was resolved by a compromise and the state decided to let the Somalis do whatever the heck they want to.
Adjoran
January 3rd, 2014 @ 2:17 am

I don’t trust the numbers anyway. Suppose you got here from Somalia and someone asked where you were from. Would you say “Somalia” or “Kenya”?
Adjoran
January 3rd, 2014 @ 2:21 am

They played a great game and had a great game plan. But that kid Henry, the Alabama freshman, is going to give everyone in the SEC headaches until he goes pro. He was third on the depth chart at the end of the season, they say he kept working hard. I believe it.
Adjoran
January 3rd, 2014 @ 2:22 am

The quick presence of HHS and FBI agents tells me if the explosion wasn’t terror-related, at least some of the building’s occupants were under surveillance for something.
Evi L. Bloggerlady
January 3rd, 2014 @ 3:50 am

That was Minne-St Paul that was happening. It is strange descendants of Scandi Vikings are so damn passive when it comes to immigrant Somalis. Why is that? Do you think it is a reflection of the heavy liberal democrat influence in Minnesota?

It is like weak owners with head strong dogs (yeah I am comparing Somalis to dogs, get over it). I do not mean this to be insulting, but when you allow bullying by extremists, they will intimidate their neighbors and the problem will grow. It is like a cancer…or an out of control dog pack. That is the problem with Somali refuges in Minnesota.

It seems it is the best interest of the USA to take skilled educated workers from Europe and Asia over poor illiterate Muslims with ties to terrorists.
tlk244182
January 3rd, 2014 @ 6:06 am

Glad to hear they met us half way, at least.
Joe Dokes
January 3rd, 2014 @ 7:33 am

Or Hawaii.
Joe Dokes
January 3rd, 2014 @ 7:44 am

I’d be interested to know how exactly they spot Jews. Cuz if they met me, they’d be in for a surprise.
Eric D. Mertz
January 3rd, 2014 @ 11:33 am

Either Kenya or Ethiopia, South Sudan even if I wanted sympathy, but not the Mog.
Eric D. Mertz
January 3rd, 2014 @ 11:38 am

If there were no reports of the smell they use to alert one to a gas leak, then they would have no cause to believe there was one. If the building was illegally and improperly subdivided as some have suggested, its possible no one bothered to report a gas smell because they didn’t want to get kicked out. Or, they didn’t recognize the smell for what it was and just let it build up.
Eric D. Mertz
January 3rd, 2014 @ 11:40 am

If I was the head of any one of those three organizations and I heard there was an explosion in that region and I DIDN’T send investigators, I would be criminally negligent.
storibund
January 3rd, 2014 @ 11:55 am

Update, via Gates of Vienna:

A spokeswoman for the natural gas utility CenterPoint Energy strongly discounted natural gas as a likely cause.

“We had no natural gas in the area,” said Rebecca Virden, basing her
information on CenterPoint’s own investigation and testing in the area.

If it were attributed to natural gas, Virden added, “the roof would come off, the walls would come out.”

She offered that if there was a gas involved, “it could be a different type of gas.”

http://gatesofvienna.net/2014/01/the-gas-company-says-no-way/
Dana
January 3rd, 2014 @ 12:57 pm

Probably an innocent explanation, like a meth lab going up.
Eric D. Mertz
January 3rd, 2014 @ 2:26 pm

Mythbusters tested an optimal mixture of natural gas and air in a circulating environment to produce an even mixture and help the fire spread using an optimized ignition source. The windows were blown out, one section of the walls was knocked off, but it wasn’t a massive demolition and the building they had built was still – mostly – intact. If it was just a leak that had filled up a specific region and the spark occurred in a different part of the building, then it would look more like a small explosion followed by the rapid ignition of most of the building.

Also, as we have learned from mass shooting reporting, never believe the first reporting of the story. it’s almost always wrong. It’s also what nutters like Alex Jones rely on to build their conspiracy theories.
Building explosion in Minneapolis injures 14 people - Page 5 - US Message Board - Political Discussion Forum
January 3rd, 2014 @ 10:42 pm

[…] […]
Steve Skubinna
January 4th, 2014 @ 1:10 am

Comparing Somalis to dogs and you don’t mean to be insulting?

You owe an apology to the Canine-American community. Otherwise, you lose you TV show.
Steve Skubinna
January 4th, 2014 @ 1:11 am

They have very highly developed Jewdar. It’s from all the oppression Somalia has suffered at the hands of da Jooooos.