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 Sunday’s 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/