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Showing Original Post only (View all)Police arrest Minnesota man for arson after a 117-year-old synagogue burns to the ground [View all]
Source: Portland Press Herald
A 117-year-old synagogue in Duluth burned to the ground on Monday. Four days later, police arrested a 36-year-old Minnesota man for allegedly setting the fire that destroyed the oldest modern orthodox synagogue in Northern Minnesota.
Matthew J. Amiot was booked on first-degree arson Friday after allegedly setting the historic house of worship ablaze. No one was inside at the time, though six Torah scrolls sacred Jewish texts handwritten on parchment paper were destroyed.
At a Sunday news conference, Police Chief Mike Tusken said there is no reason to believe this is a bias or hate crime at this time. Authorities have not determined the motive.
According to Duluth fire chief Shawn Krizaj, firefighters responded to the Adas Israel Congregation at 2:30 a.m., Monday. Krizaj explained at Sundays news conference that the fire initiated outside of the building but quickly spread through voids in the wall space and spread throughout the synagogue.
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Read more: https://www.pressherald.com/2019/09/15/police-arrest-minnesota-man-for-arson-after-a-117-year-old-synagogue-burns-to-the-ground/