Arson suspect arrested after blaze at historic Mississippi synagogue
The Guardian••nation
Key Points:
- A suspect has been arrested following an arson fire that severely damaged the historic Beth Israel Congregation synagogue in Jackson, Mississippi, with no injuries reported.
- The fire, which broke out around 3 a.m. on Saturday, destroyed or damaged multiple Torah scrolls and caused extensive soot damage to the building’s administrative office, library, and sanctuary.
- Jackson’s mayor condemned the attack as an act of terrorism motivated by antisemitism and religious hatred, with the FBI and joint terrorism taskforce involved in the investigation.
- Beth Israel Congregation, the largest synagogue in Mississippi and previously targeted in a 1967 Ku Klux Klan bombing, has pledged to rebuild, receiving support from local faith communities and Jewish organizations.
