Arson suspected at DC restaurant associated with ‘Pizzagate’ conspiracy

Authorities in Washington, D.C., suspect arson was the cause of a fire earlier this week at Comet Ping Pong, the restaurant associated with the “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory. 

“Our investigation has since determined the fire was intentionally set and we are working to identify a suspect or suspects,” the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department said in a statement to The Hill on Friday.

{mosads}A police report obtained by The Hill said that a partially filled plastic bottle labeled “charcoal lighter fluid” and a box of matches were found in the restaurant, leading to a “unanimous” decision that the fire Wednesday night was the result of arson. 

Restaurant employees used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames that consumed some window curtains before first responders arrived, according to D.C. Fire and EMS. No injuries were reported. 

The restaurant was the subject of a far-right conspiracy theory that bubbled up during the 2016 presidential race that claimed without evidence that Hillary Clinton and other top Democrats used the site to run a pedophile sex ring.

The theory gained significant traction on social media, resulting in a North Carolina man firing several shots in the restaurant in December 2016. Other amateur investigators also traveled to the restaurant at the time. 

The conspiracy theory was created from misconstrued emails hacked from Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta. 

The motivation behind the arson is currently unclear, and no suspects have been publicly identified.