Blaze at TPAN's Uptown Offices Ruled Arson

Tue. September 9, 2003

Minor Damage to Building Which Also Houses Jan Schakowsky's Office

Chicago, IL - A fire at an office building housing the offices of U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and and AIDS awareness group in the Uptown neighborhood has been ruled a deliberate case of arson by Chicago police.

The building located at 5533-39 N. Broadway houses the Test Positive Aware Network, the offices of Schakowsky a Democrat and Sen. Carol Ronen (D-Chicago), state Rep. Harry Osterman (D-Chicago) and Ald. Mary Ann Smith (48th).

Investigators of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, state fire marshal's office, Chicago Fire Department Office of Fire Investigation and Chicago Police Department Bomb and Arson Unit were on th escene investigating the fire.

According to investigators, gasoline was poured on the roof and set on fire. The blaze was reported around 5:30 Tuesday morning.

Police aren't sure of the motive and they have no suspects. The fire caused damage to TPAN, yet damage was relatively minor and there were no injuries.

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