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Bronx Bodega Has Close Call With Molotov Cocktail

By Ben Fractenberg | December 25, 2012 10:36am | Updated on December 25, 2012 2:34pm

BRONX — A firebug tossed a Molotov cocktail into a Wakefield bodega early Christmas morning — but a quick-thinking worker kicked it outside before it exploded, according to a manager.

The incident happened about 3 a.m. at Laconia Avenue Discount Candy and Tobacco 4045 Laconia Ave. when the burning glass bottle was tossed into the store.

But an employee of the store, near East 228th Street, kicked the bottle out, where it exploded against a car, according to officials and workers.

"He did a good job. If the bottle had broken the fire would have been out of control," said store manager Fateh Nagi, 30. "Thank God everything was saved."

Surveillance footage shows a man wearing a brown jacket throw the bottle into the store.

Nagi said he did not recognize the alleged firebomber and has never had anything like that happen before in the six years they have been in business.

There were no injuries or immediate reports of any arrests.