As Minneapolis rioters set buildings ablaze, grocer pleads to save his stores

FILE PHOTO: Owner of Tawakal Halal Grocery store walks outside his store following the protests against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., May 30, 2020. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - At a little past midnight on Saturday as smoke billowed and flames rose from the tops of a nearby bank and a post office building, Minneapolis grocery store owner Mohammad Abdi knew he had a critical business decision to make.

Either go out into the street and confront the dangerous vandals and looters who were preparing to torch his Tawakal Halal Grocery or standby and watch them destroy his livelihood.