A Southern California man faces multiple felony arson charges after allegedly setting fire to a vast Kimberly-Clark warehouse in San Bernardino County, authorities said. Chamel Abdulkarim, 29, of Highland, was arrested Tuesday near the scene of the blaze, which engulfed the 1.2-million-square-foot facility in Ontario.

According to charging documents, Abdulkarim, a former employee, deliberately ignited the six-alarm fire. He is charged with seven state-level felony counts of arson, as well as an additional federal count related to the destruction of a building involved in interstate and foreign commerce. If convicted, he could face life in prison.

Investigators revealed that Abdulkarim expressed a motivation linked to a radical left-wing ideology during a phone call he made after the fire. In the call to an acquaintance, he compared himself to Luigi Mangione, a controversial figure suspected of assassinating the UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City in 2024. Abdulkarim reportedly stated that the warehouse company "had it coming" and boasted about causing billions of dollars in damage.

U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli described the case as part of a disturbing pattern of politically motivated violence inspired by left-wing activism. “This is an alarming trend where we’re seeing far-left political activists resorting to violence to advance their ideology,” Essayli said. He noted a video circulated on social media, allegedly recorded by Abdulkarim, showing the suspect setting the fire while chanting grievances about wages and treatment, which authorities said underscores the ideological motive behind the attack.

The estimated financial impact of the fire reaches approximately $500 million, encompassing both the value of the structure, around $152 million, and the inventory housed within. At the time of the incident, about 20 employees, including Abdulkarim, were present inside the warehouse, though no injuries associated with the fire have been publicly reported.

Abdulkarim remains in custody at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga and is scheduled to be arraigned next week. Records indicate he previously filed and won a 2024 class-action lawsuit against another employer over unpaid wages related to break times.

Authorities continue to investigate the incident as part of broader concerns around politically motivated violence targeting corporate entities. The case highlights tensions surrounding labor issues and ideological extremism within certain activist circles.