. fire starter suspect, as a new suspicious fire erupts, detectives release a new picture of a biker they say could be the serial arsonist terrorizing queens. >> caught on camera, a battle at the bodega between two would- be thieves and the brave worker who decided to fight back. good evening. i'm joe torres. >> and i'm sandra bookman. we begin with the suspicious fire in queens. police say the man wearing a scarf over his face and riding

suspected arsonist responsible for a string of intentionally set fires that have been unnerving people in queens. they released this photo of the suspect. >> he is wanted for questioning in connection with at least four arsons in forest hills, between november 8 and early today. eyewitness news reporter kimberly richardson is in forest hills with our lead story. kimberly? >> reporter: joe and sandra, growing sense of anxiety and fear. enormous flames once again lit up this community at about 12:30 this morning and everybody knew exactly what it was. now, one family's future home is gone. another must spend this first else. early this morning, the rabbi's future home went up in flames. he tells me his family, his wife and six kids had planned

>> first time was not so bad. we fix it. everything -- all my plans, a little bit changed. >> reporter: this is the second time someone targeted this exact site. now police want to speak with this man, sources tell eyewitness news. he was spotted earlier in the neighborhood, roaming around on his motorcycle. detectives want to know why. >> very serious. it's getting to a serious level. >> reporter: at an impromptu meeting today, religious leaders in the community met. this is the fifth of a series of suspicious fires in forest hills since november 8. all of the targeted homes under construction are jewish-owned. authorities do in the think this fire bug is fueled by hate, rather opposition to the extensive renovations going on at these sites. jonathan lives right next door to the home that was destroyed. that's his mom on the stretcher. the stress of all of this is too much. >> my niece and nephew were sleeping on that side and i

the room, i saw the whole window was red. i just quickly grabbed them, ran outside. >> reporter: inside jonathan's home, firefighters had to pull down parts of ceilings and from spreading. his mom tells me she is doing better, but on the first night home. the rabbi tells me whoever is away. >> they will not do this to us. >> reporter: not moving from here. the reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case is now more than $62,000. for now, live in forest hills, kimberly richardson, channel 7 eyewitness news. >> thank you, kimberly. from queens to brooklyn, where a suspicious three-alarm fire is causing trouble for subway riders tonight. the fire gutted a vacant commercial building in benson hurst this morning. that building, located under elevated subway tracks. transit officials rerouted

line for most of the day and that caused delays for straphangers. inspectors have been on the scene assessing the damage to the tracks. tonight, president obama will address the nation from the oval office for just the third time in his presidency, all to discuss the growing threat of terrorism on u.s. soil. the president is expected to lay out his strategy against isis both in the middle east and here at home, following the deadly terror attack in san bernardino last week. he will also touch on mass shootings in the united states. meanwhile, senator charles schumer wants a second vote in the senate on proposed legislation that would close a loophole allowing people on the u.s. terror watch list to buy legally guns. last week, senate republicans voted against closesting the loophole, claiming it infringes on the right to bear arms. >> there's a group in congress who just won't listen. they won't protect these men and women behind me or the

from the new danger we face, which is terrorism here. >> also tonight, the father of san bernardino gunman syed farook tells an italian newspaper his son shared the ideology of the isis leader in creating an islamic state. he also said his son hated israel. you can watch president obama's address from the oval office, live on channel 7, beginning at 8:00 tonight. new at 6:00, bravery in the bronx. a deli worker was behind the counter when two armed masked men entered and demanded cash, but the worker fought back. more. >> reporter: well, sandra, as you can see behind me, achmed hussein is back behind the counter, just a few days after looking down the barrel of a pistol in an attempted armed robbery. the crime happened late thursday night.

see two masked men enter this convenience store, located by a gas station here on gun hill road in the baychester section of the bronx. we're told they demanded cash. instead of handing over the bills, the brave worker tried to slap away the weapon. it discharged, sending a bullet into the pastries on the counter. the video shows the robbers running away without any cash, but they did of fear and one worker who was grateful to be alive. >> are you scared now? >> it's okay. it's okay. new life. new life? >> new day, new life, yeah. >> reporter: again, police tonight looking for two men who tried to hold up this convenience store. they covered their faces, but we're told they may have left fingerprints behind. live in the bronx, lucy yang, channel 7 eyewitness news. >> lucy, thank you.

lower manhattan this morning, pushing for congress to pass a bill which provides medical care for those sickened by toxins at the world trade center site. the bill expired in september. lawmakers say the bill has enough about bipartisan support to pass, but say republican leadership is blocking it from coming up for a vote, all for political purposes. >> to those leaders around the negotiating table, how dare you try to trade the lives of our brave first responders for your little political gain! it ain't happening! >> supporters of the act say this week is the last opportunity for the bill to be passed this year. remarkable news tonight carter. he is now cancer-free. mr. carter, 91 years old, made the announcement this morning while teaching sunday school at a church in georgia.

and doctors said there is no sign of brain cancer. mr. carter revealed in august that doctors found four small melanoma lesions on his brain. rock band u2 is in paris, performing two concerts postponed following the terror attacks last month. [ cheers & applause ] [ cheers & applause ] >> the band linked to a fan's live stream of the concert. u2 was forced to postpone their shows in paris after the attacks that left 130 people dead and hundreds injured. the victim of a crime speaks out. coming up on eyewitness news, a young student is robbed by a trio of thieves. tonight, he tells us exclusively how he fought back. >> new tonight, a driver falls asleep at the wheel and turns the lobby of a local hotel into a drive-through. >> and a thrilling sunday showdown at the meadowlands.

the giants and jets, goes into overtime with playoff implications on the line. >> and of course the weather was absolutely picture-perfect for that game over at the 50 degrees right now. if you thought this weekend was mild, wait until you see next weekend. we could be talking holiday season's just like football season... you got your big games... ...and regular games. get it all at a great price... ...and the holiday season is won. everything in one place. my stop & shop. i'm not a fan of putting my personal info in these online shopping forms. hellloooo??? i don't have time to be filling out my address, i need to be buying a dress. that's why i use masterpass. less typing, more dancing.

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pictures of the four people accused of stealing carlos simon's cell phone in port richmond last month. the 18-year-old says he sensed trouble when the group approached and asked him for money. >> they got kind of offended because i wasn't willing to give them anything. one of them asked to check your pockets right now, you wouldn't have any money in there. i told them, surely you're not checking my pockets. to me, i'm, like, who would do such a thing? what are you doing? now. >> one in the group ran off with simon's cell phone. investigators believe the same people may have recently robbed a 14-year-old boy in that area. in connecticut, a driver who rammed into a hotel lobby overnight faces multiple charges. the toyota corolla smashed into the clarion hotel and suites in hamden about 3:20 a.m. the one person working the front desk was not hurt. police believe 39-year-old the wheel.

reckless driving and driving with a suspended license. chilling out for a very good cause. coming up on eyewitness news, laura behnke is leading the charges as the brave souls take the polar plunge. these pictures posted by laura on instagram and twitter. >> may have been frosty at the beach, but the rest of us enjoyed a warm december day. what's on tap for the work week? meteorologist jeff smith has the exclusive accuweather forecast. >> first, here's a look at what's coming up on abc's "world news tonight." >> good evening. coming up on "world news tonight," new clues on that quiet couple that transformed into home grown terrorists. also, the debate over the holidays, from starbucks coffee cops to what you call the tree

and the sunken ship ok, we're here. here's dad. mom. the twins. aunt alice... you didn't tell me aunt alice was coming. of course. don't forget grandpa. can the test drive be over now? maybe just head back to the dealership? don't you want to meet my family? yep, totally. it's practically yours, but we still need your signature. the volkswagen sign then drive event. zero due at signing, zero down, zero deposit, and zero first

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. happy hanukkah! on this first night of the jewish festival of lights, this is a live look at the plaza in brooklyn where the ceremony to light up the so-called world's largest menorah is under way. the festival commemorates the rededication of the ancient temple, when the oil for one night lasted for eight nights. eight nights. happy hanukkah to all of those celebrating. >> and what a perfect evening for the ceremony. >> usually around hanukkah we start talking about our first snow of the season.

by the eighth night of hanukkah, could be really warm, as we look at temperatures approaching record levels by late next weekend, into the week. here's a live look right now of celebrating hanukkah, with lights out there, blue and temperature right now, 50 degrees. wind coming in from the southwest at 3 miles per hour. the high on the day got up to 53, well above average for this time of the year. don't need me to tell you that. 39 was our morning low. you see the normal high for the 6th of december is 46 degrees. 71, record back in 2001. around 7:05. mild once again tomorrow, kind temperature-wise. cooler on tuesday. there will be an offshore storm system. that will spread some clouds into the area, with a northeast wind, keeping temperatures in that's right around normal for this time of the year. could be a shower from the storm over eastern parts of long island. then it's all about a warming trend. we're talking 60s.

51 now, 47 at newark. the one concern i have during the evening hours tonight up towards poughkeepsie, you're already down to 33. some of these outer suburbs falling well down into lower 30s and along with that, you're getting fog developing. so like these areas well north and west, could be a couple icy patches out there because you're getting fog with temperatures near the 32-degree mark. here's the radar satellite, showing a patch of high clouds moving over from the west. our next item of interest, though, is over here, over northern parts of illinois, an area of low pressure. this will dive off to the south and east and eventually redevelop off the atlantic sea board and turn into a decent high about 53 degrees. a cold front moving through from northwest to southeast during the afternoon will introduce a slightly cooler air tuesday. at the same time, this system tries intensifying at the last minute here, throwing some clouds back into the area

so it's a cloudier day, it's a cooler day, 46. i do think we eventually see some brightening in the afternoon. but at the same time, could be maybe a shower over the twin forks of long island. then it's all about the warmth. unusually warm by late in the week, next weekend. jetstream lifting to the north, opening up the flood gates, so to speak for a southwesterly flow at all levels of the atmosphere. that's going to pump up mild air all the way from the gulf of mexico, in the direction of the tri-state area. it's going to be very warm, maybe nearing records by late next weekend. accuweather forecast for tonight, like this. partly cloudy. we're down to about 41 in midtown. 28 in some of the colder suburbs, especially well north and west of the city. like i was saying earlier, parts of the mid hudson valley, you get a little fog with temperatures at or below freezing. this could be a couple of icy spots there. times of clouds and sun tomorrow. once again, mild, high up to around 53, so just like today. mostly cloudy tomorrow night,

suburbs. day forecast. again, on tuesday, we start with clouds. we might get a little brightening in the afternoon. but during those morning hours when we have the clouds in the city, could be a shower on eastern long island as the ocean storm makes its closest pass. high up to 46, around average for this time of the year. 50 on wednesday. check this out. mid-50s thursday and friday. yes, it is december. 60 on saturday. 62 sunday. the record on sunday is 64. seven days out, we're predicting a temperature of only 2 degrees shy of that. subject to change. we can break that record. >> i'm predicting golf. >> yes. >> yes, 72 holes maybe? [ laughter ] >> thank you. laura behnke still recovering from her polar plunge. anthony is in with sports. >> yeah, big blue taking on gangrene. this game was bigger than just bragging rights. both teams need a win. jets and giants scare off at

. whole lot of smack talk probably going down right now! >> absolutely. there's a new gridiron king in new york. but the giants-jets team needed extra time.

playoff hopes. second quarter, duane harris takes it for a long 80-yard return, putting the giants up 7- 3. still in the second quarter, the jets take off with this screen downfield for a 25-yard completion, tying the game at 10-10. odell beckham takes off for a 72-yard touchdown play. big blue has a 17-10 lead, tacks on three more. 20-20, half time at the lead. jets come right back. second half of the game, ryan brandon marshall. 9-yard touchdown, 20-20. heading to overtime, jets strike first. randy bullock kicks a 3-point field goal. now it's the giants turn. josh brown misses the kick and guess what, the giants are green with envy as the jets

>> for us to come from behind and show grit, it was great. >> there was always great belief in the huddle, great belief on the sideline that we could come back and take this thing. >> seems like most the losses have come that way. >> again, did not finish, had the lead 20-10, lost the ball game. now both teams are a scoreboard watching. neither the jets or giants are officially out of it. seattle started the day in control of one of those nfc playoff spots. they took on the vikings, started the second half. seattle already up big and this will help. russell wilson connects with doug baldwin for a 53-yard touchdown. 28-0. minnesota gets its break in the third. 101-yard punt return by cordell patterson, but that's all the vikings could muster. 38-7 seahawks win easily.

tampa, both teams ahead of the first quarter, jameis winston on the move, keeps it himself for the 5-yard score. 7-0 bucs. then in the fourth, it's winston again, fighting mike evans for six. that's all tampa would need. 23-19, bucs win. both teams are still ahead of the giants in the standings. and jets becoming bills fans as they host the 6th place texans. game tied in the fourth, buffalo takes the lead. seconds left. brian hoyer going for it all, that will do it. 30-21, bills win, which means the jets take over fifth place go jets! at barclays center, brooklyn looking to hand the warriors their first loss of the season. i would love to see it! with the nets behind. we'll have all of the highlights coming up tonight at

early this morning, it was st. johns taking on st. francis at madison square garden. red storm had a commanding first half lead. 19-2 run. stop, drop there, johnson led with 19 points. he drops in the baseline bucket late in the second, dagger from the baseline. chris mullen wins his first game as a head coach at the garden. congratulations, chris. the committee has spoken and the college playoff is set. championship saturday all but settled the debate last night. top-seeded clemson will play oklahoma in the orange bowl, while alabama takes on michigan state in the cotton bowl. the winner will play for the national championship on january 11 on our sister station espn. and i know it was a comfortable day in december, right, jeff? but when it comes to going into the bay off the coast of staten island, only the strong dare jump in. cue my colleagues, including

all braving the elements to raise money for special olympics. over 500 people participated in the event, spirit takes over on the beach on staten island and here at eyewitness news. congratulations to all. that's sports. >> could you do it? >> i don't think so. no, no, no. [ laughter ] cooperation from mother nature. thankful for that. that's the news for now.