Suspected arsonist pleads guilty to New Year’s Eve fire in Seattle nightclub

The man charged with setting a fire in a crowded Capitol Hill gay nightclub has pleaded guilty to arson in a plea deal with federal prosecutors.

Musab Mohammed Masmari, 30, entered his plea Friday in U.S. District Court in Seattle, after having been previously charged with first-degree arson in King County Superior Court.

Under the plea agreement, prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed to a five year prison sentence, although the maximum penalty is 20 years.

Masmari skirted security and brought a one gallon tank of gas into Neighbours nightclub on New Year’s Eve. He was spotted on surveillance video and fled seconds before flames broke out

“This defendant violated people’s right to gather safely: he put more than 700 lives at risk when he purposely started a fire at a crowded nightclub on New Year’s Eve,” said U.S. Attorney Durkan. “Thankfully, the staff and patrons at Neighbours moved quickly to evacuate the club and extinguish the flames. Federal prosecution ensures a five year mandatory minimum sentence – one that is more than double the potential sentence faced in state court.”

Masmari’s became the subject of an FBI manhunt after a friend notified officials the man “may be planning some terrorist activity,” according to search-warrant documents filed earlier in King County Superior Court. Masmari also reportedly expressed his “distaste for homosexual people” and thought they “should be exterminated,” on a number of occasions.

Masmari was arrested Feb. 1 just days after booking a one-way flight to Turkey. Police say he was preparing to leave for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at the time.