A person was taken into custody late Saturday after a fire ripped through the historic Beth Israel Congregation synagogue in Jackson, Mississippi, severely damaging the building in what officials are describing as an act of arson.
The blaze erupted shortly after 3 a.m. on Saturday, with officials confirming no injuries among the congregants. Images emerged showing the charred ruins of the synagogue's administrative office and library, where several Torah scrolls were destroyed or damaged.
Jackson Mayor John Horhn announced the arrest following a collaboration between local law enforcement, the FBI, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force. Acts of antisemitism, racism, and religious hatred are considered attacks on the entire Jackson community, and will be treated as such, Horhn stated.
While the specific identity of the suspect has not been disclosed, the synagogue's rich history heightened the community's concern; it was previously targeted during a Ku Klux Klan bombing in 1967 due to its involvement in civil rights movements, as reported by the Institute for Southern Jewish Life.
The synagogue, regarded as the largest in Mississippi, continues to receive an outpouring of support from other local houses of worship amidst the tragedy. In a statement from the institute, it expressed confidence in the strength of the community to recover from this calamity, reinforcing their bonds against such acts of hatred.
Remarkably, one Torah that survived the Holocaust was among the items not damaged by the fire, marking a symbol of resilience amid destruction according to reports. The congregation continues to assess the extent of the damage while working closely with other faith communities offering assistance.
