A 30-year-old woman who claimed a burglar armed with a Molotov cocktail started a fire in her swanky Tribeca home set the fire herself — and is now facing arson charges, police said Saturday.
Aila Balic’s claims that someone threw an explosive into her third-floor apartment on Murray St. — just a half block from City Hall — causing a small fire in the bathroom, sparked a massive response by both police and firefighters at 8:15 a.m. Friday, cops said.
The fire was put out in a few moments, but cops didn’t find any Molotov cocktails. The closest thing they could find was a bottle of mouthwash with a rag on top of it, a police source with knowledge of the case said.
No injuries were reported.
Nearly 80 firefighters, emergency medical technicians and paramedics responded to the scene, FDNY officials said.
Officials investigate a fire on Murray St. Friday, April 17, 2026 in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/ New York Daily News/)
Officials investigate a fire on Murray St. Friday, April 17, 2026 in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/ New York Daily News/)
Officials investigate a fire on Murray St. Friday, April 17, 2026 in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/ New York Daily News/)
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Officials investigate a fire on Murray St. Friday, April 17, 2026 in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/ New York Daily News/)
Investigators later learned that Balic, who suffered a minor injury and was taken to an area hospital for an evaluation, had started the fire and charged her with second-degree arson and reckless endangerment.
She may have been in the middle of an emotional crisis when she sparked the blaze and called 911, police sources said.
Balic was released on $5,000 bail after a brief arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court Friday, according to court documents.
Stacey Richman, a high-profile hip-hop attorney whose client list includes Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and Ja Rule, represented Balic at her arraignment. A call to Richman for comment Saturday was not immediately returned.
Estimated rents in Balic’s high-end luxury building are about $6,000 a month, according to Zillow. Sales of units in the building average around $2.8 million.