Mississippi's largest synagogue razed in suspected arson attack as city's mayor brands torching 'religious hatred' and suspect is arrested
Mississippi's largest synagogue has been razed in a suspected arson attack over the weekend, with a suspect now in custody.
The fire tore through Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson around 3am on Saturday, according to the local mayor, John Horhn, who described it as an act of 'religious hatred'.
Shocking photographs show the extent of the destruction, with the interior of the building completely blackened and burned as a result of the horror blaze.
'The Jackson Fire Department responded quickly, contained the blaze and extinguished the fire,' Horhn said in a statement.
'Acts of antisemitism, racism, and religious hatred are attacks on Jackson as a whole and will be treated as acts of terror against residents' safety and freedom to worship.'
'Jackson stands with Beth Israel and the Jewish community, and we'll do everything we can to support them and hold accountable anyone who tries to spread fear and hate here,' he added.
A suspect has been taken into custody, and the investigation is 'moving forward', according to Jackson Police Department and Hinds County Sheriff's Office.
The departments issued a joint statement condemning the suspected arson, adding that the 'entire community' had been 'shaken' by the apparent attack.
Beth Israel Congregation, Mississippi's largest synagogue, has been razed in a suspected arson attack over the weekend, and a suspect has been taken into custody but not named
The fire tore through Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson around 3am on Saturday, according to the local mayor, John Horhn, who described it as an act of 'religious hatred'
Shocking photographs show the extent of the destruction, with the interior of the building completely blackened and burned as a result of the horror, as shown above
Nobody was inside the synagogue at the time of the blaze, and the suspect has not yet been named. The Daily Mail has contacted police for more information.
Beth Israel Congregation is the only synagogue in the city, and is believed to be the largest of the 14 synagogues in Mississippi.
The southern state is home to around 3,000 Jews - or just 0.1 percent of its three million residents.
Beth Israel Congregation President Zach Shemper told the Times of Israel there was 'significant' soot and smoke throughout the building, but confirmed nobody was injured.
He later added that the historic temple was now 'unusable' and would need repairs. Prayer services have been canceled for the foreseeable future.
'We have already had outreach from other houses of worship in the Jackson area and greatly appreciate their support in this very difficult time,' Beth Israel said in a statement.
The Stop Antisemitism campaign group also said that two Torahs were destroyed in the fire, and five more of the holy books were damaged by the flames.
Jackson Mayor John Horhn described the suspected arson as an act of 'religious hatred'
Beth Israel Congregation (pictured above before the fire) is the only synagogue in the city, and is believed to be the largest of the 14 synagogues in Mississippi
Beth Israel Congregation President Zach Shemper told the Times of Israel there was 'significant' soot and smoke throughout the building, but confirmed nobody was injured
The group added that the 60-year-old synagogue was also bombed by the Klu Klux Klan in 1967 due to the rabbi's support for the Civil Rights movement.
Carole Zawatsky, CEO of The Tree of Life, the Pittsburgh synagogue that in 2018 saw the deadliest attack on Jewish people in the US, condemned the attack on Beth Israel as 'horrific.'
'We mourn the destruction and the loss of security and safety that comes in the aftermath of such violence,' she said.
'The intentional burning of a Jewish house of worship... causes fear and raises the specter of antisemitism and hate.'
