(TNND) — An alleged arsonist said he targeted a historic Mississippi synagogue for its “Jewish ties,” badly damaging the place of worship.
On Monday, Stephen Pittman was charged with “maliciously damaging or destroying a building by means of fire or an explosive.” He confessed to lighting a fire inside the building, referring to it as “the synagogue of Satan.”
His father turned him in after he witnessed burn marks on his son’s ankles, hands and face, said the FBI. His father also said his son confessed to setting the building on fire. Pittman messaged a photo of the back of the synagogue before the fire.
The FBI added that he used an ax to break the window of the synagogue, poured gas inside and used a torch lighter to ignite the fire.
Although no one was hurt, the synagogue’s 165-year old library and offices were badly damaged. The library contained sacred scrolls with texts of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. The fire destroyed two Torahs, but one survived behind a glass case. That particular book had also survived the Holocaust.
This is not the congregation’s first attack. In 1966, the synagogue’s leader’s home was bombed by local members of the Ku Klux Klan for being outspoken about racism.
Editor’s note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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