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One person is in custody after a fire broke out at a synagogue Saturday night mississippiseverely damaging the historic chapel in what authorities said was an act of arson. No one was injured, reports said.
Fire breaks out at Beth Israel Congregation jacksonIt was just after 3 a.m. Saturday morning in Mississippi. Synagogue leaders said photos showed the charred remains of administrative offices and the synagogue library, where several Torahs had been destroyed or damaged.
Jackson Fire Department chief fire investigator Charles Felton confirmed the arrest to Mississippi Today Saturday night but did not provide the suspect’s name or charges. No injuries were reported. Felton said the department determined the fire was arson.
This synagogue is the largest synagogue in Mississippi and is home to a synagogue. Ku Klux Klan The 1967 bombing was a response to the church’s role in civil rights activities, according to the Institute of Southern Jewish Life, which also has offices in the building.
“As Jackson’s only synagogue, Beth Israel is a beloved institution and the friendship of our neighbors and the wider community will help us weather this difficult time,” the institute said in a statement.
The synagogue’s president, Zach Shemper, said the congregation is still assessing the damage and has received help from other houses of worship, Mississippi Today reported.
One Torah that survived the Holocaust was not damaged in the fire, the outlet reported.
both FBI The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is assisting in the investigation, Mississippi Today reported.
Query Beth Israel and the Jackson Fire Department did not immediately return.