The councilwoman says someone ransacked her family's home, then set fires. Her husband just entered his first political race, and now the couple isn't ruling out they could be targets.
Fire officials won't say yet if this is arson.
Maria Quinones-Sanchez tells Action News, "This is unfortunately ... Philly politics are rough and tumble. I will not speculate. I'll let the marshals tell us what happened."
7th District City Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez rushed to her home in the 2000 block of North Hancock Street as crews worked to get a fire under control around 5:30 Friday morning.
The Arson Taskforce surrounded the home, as federal and local investigators collected evidence through the morning.
The councilwoman says the home was for sale, and that while TVs and artwork were stolen, the burglars left other valuable items aside. She also claims multiple fires were set inside.
Quinones-Sanchez is in her second term, her husband Tomas Sanchez just filed to run for the 2nd District state senate seat - his first race.
Both are democrats.
The recent redistricting left their home out of the district by 100 feet, so they relocated around the block. Luckily, no one was inside at the time of the fire.
The councilwoman eluded she had been targeted before but wouldn't say how or when.
"It's not a traditional burglary. And we see no need for why the fires were set," the councilwoman said.
Philadelphia police's Homeland Security interviewed the councilwoman. They are usually involved when threats are made to elected officials. Philadelphia police won't comment if that is the case here.
