Officials in Atlanta have confirmed the fire that gutted Shaq's iconic Krispy Kreme was caused by an arsonist ... and now, they say they're on the hunt for the suspect.
The famous donut shop -- which is located on Ponce de Leon Ave. and has ties to Martin Luther King Jr. -- was nearly burnt to the ground shortly after midnight on Feb. 10.
Officials say 2 employees who were in the store were able to escape the fire safely ... but the place took SERIOUS damage from the flames.
Now, officials say they believe the blaze was NOT caused by an accident .