Authorities have accused a woman of setting her Tribeca apartment on fire and then attempting to blame it on a fabricated burglary.
According to reports, Aila Balic, 30, told police that an intruder had attempted to ignite her apartment at 14 Murray St. using Molotov cocktails. She made this claim during a call to the police shortly before 8:30 a.m. on Friday.
When officers arrived, Balic was inside the apartment while a small fire burned and smoke filled the air, as detailed in the criminal complaint.
The fire was promptly extinguished, and Balic was transported from her apartment on a stretcher to a hospital for evaluation.
Investigators discovered a bottle of mouthwash with a rag inside and found no evidence of forced entry into the third-floor residence. An officer also noted burn marks and soot on Balic’s hands, as per the complaint.
An FDNY spokesperson stated that a fire marshal determined the blaze was likely set intentionally.
Residents reported knowing little about Balic but believe she resides in the apartment with her partner.
She faced charges of arson and reckless endangerment and was arraigned on Friday night. According to court documents, Balic pleaded not guilty and was released on a $5,000 bail.
Balic and her family did not respond to requests for comments from The Post, and it remains unclear if she has secured legal representation.
The FDNY spokesperson mentioned that a preliminary fire report is yet to be finalized.
