By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2025-03-20 19:14:05 | Updated at 2025-04-05 06:40:49
2 weeks ago
The maniac accused of setting a club promoter on fire in Times Square over the weekend has been identified as a food cart operator — who has since fled to Egypt, sources said.
The suspect, whom police sources identified to The Post as Ahmad Mossad, allegedly drenched promoter Mark Whyte, 45, with accelerant and lit him aflame outside Nebula nightclub on West 41st Street near Broadway on Sunday.
The attacker, who is the nephew of the cart’s owner, knew Whyte and the two had previous interactions as the cart was stationed near the club, sources also said this week.
The two men were exchanging words for about 15 minutes before the argument escalated, sources said.
After the two chatted for a bit, Whyte ducked into the club, but when he emerged, Mossad is believed to have grabbed something off the food cart and used its contents as an accelerant to set Whyte on fire, sources said.
After torching the promoter, Mossad fled — and took a flight to Egypt the same day, sources said.
It was not immediately clear what caused the exchange between the two men to escalate or if police are tracking Mossad down in Egypt.
Whyte ran about 100 feet while on fire before someone ran up and doused him with the powder from a fire extinguisher, authorities said.
Video from the scene shows Whyte clearly in pain and covered in burns just moments after the attack.
He can be seen shirtless and covered in a blue blanket on the sidewalk before authorities place him in an ambulance as about a dozen first responders stand nearby.
The footage also showed cops talking to an apparent female companion of the victim who was wearing a short dress and high heels.
EMS took Whyte to New York Presbyterian Cornell Hospital, where he is in stable condition, police said.
