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FBI: Suspect in Mississippi synagogue fire targeted house of worship because of its ‘Jewish ties’
Stephen Spencer Pittman admitted to targeting the synagogue for its Jewish ties and was charged with malicious arson, damaging historic religious artifacts and offices.
- Stephen Spencer Pittman was charged Monday with maliciously damaging a building by fire after a blaze ripped through Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson shortly after 3 a.m. on Saturday.
- In an affidavit filed Monday, the FBI said Stephen Spencer Pittman confessed to setting the fire because of the building's Jewish ties, with the suspect's father reporting the confession and phone data corroborating it.
- Security camera footage released Monday shows a masked person pouring liquid from a gas can inside the lobby, while investigators recovered a burned cell phone and hand torch after Pittman used an ax, removed his license plate and ignited the fire with a torch lighter.
- The fire badly damaged the historic synagogue's library and administrative offices, five Torahs were assessed for smoke damage, two were destroyed, and yellow police tape and memorial flowers marked the scene Monday.
- The midcentury building housed the Institute of Southern Jewish Life, serving 13 southern states, and Beth Israel, founded 1860, was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967.
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FBI: Suspect Targeted Mississippi's Largest Synagogue Over Its 'Jewish Ties'
Pittman referred to Beth Israel as the “synagogue of Satan.” ... "One particular podcaster has used that term repeatedly in recent months to refer to Jews." The post FBI: Suspect Targeted Mississippi’s Largest Synagogue Over Its ‘Jewish Ties’ first appeared on Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources32
Leaning Left6Leaning Right4Center19Last UpdatedBias Distribution65% Center
Bias Distribution
- 65% of the sources are Center
65% Center
L 21%
C 65%
14%
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