A 36-yearm-old Duluth man could face arson charges in the fire that destroyed a Duluth synagogue, an act police say was likely not targeted against the Jedwish congregation.
"There is no reason to believe that this is bias or hate crime," said Duluth police chief Mike Tusken in a Sunday morning news conference. "That may change."
The synagogue burned to the ground on Monday and investigators so far have not found an accelerant at the site, located several blocks away from the city's lakewalk.
A 36-year-old Duluth man was arrested on Friday and remains in custody and faces a felony charge of first-degree arson.
Charges could come by the middle of the week, and Tusken would not discuss the motivation behind the setting of the fire.
"There's just sadness," said synagogue congregation past president Phillip Sher, who would not speculate on the possible motivation. "We'll forge ahead. True Judeasm is in the heart, not in the building."
Arrangements are already underway to find a place to hold services, said Sher, noting that a finding a permanent home for the congregation will likley stretch into 2020.
The suspect has no permanent address, according to Tusken, and no known connection with the synagogue.
The fire at the 119-year-old synagogue started during the early morning hours of Monday, September 9.
No one was inside the building near downtown Duluth when the fire started, however one firefigther was hurt while working to control the flames.
Firefighters were able to save several relics, including eight of the 14 Torah scrolls.
"This has been a very difficult week," said Duluth mayor Emily Larson.
