You misread. the attendent was attacked when the would be arsonist crossed the street for another gallon of gasoline. Even though Brooklyn is the city of churches, you dont cross a street pass a mosque and a church on your way to the Temple.
Looks like you are right about the attack on the Paki being only secondary, but I still believe the assailant, on his way to the service station, had passed churches. I did not say he had passed a mosque.
I still think this Ali ought to be invited to attend Christian services and maybe convert and change his name to Albert or Oliver or something.