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Matthew James Amiot, 36, of Duluth, was arrested on Friday and is currently being held at St. Louis County Jail under the charge of first degree criminal arson. The Press Gallery does not usually name suspects who have not yet been charged, but because of the highly publicized nature of the crime.
Matthew James Amiot
Amiot has already been found guilty of theft and violation of property. Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken said that Amiot did not have a permanent address. Court records show that Amiot has a history of convictions for theft and violation of property rights.
The city of Duluth held a press conference Sunday morning about the arrest and the ongoing investigation.
"Based on all the information I've reviewed, that I've read and investigators I've talked to, for now, there's no reason to believe that It is a crime of bias or hate crime, "Tusken said. "This could change as the investigation progresses."
But Tusken stressed that "this survey is open and active".
Tusken presented the chronology of events related to fires and investigations. Firefighters were called to the synagogue at 9:23 am on September 9th, as a result of a fire report in an outhouse. The fire is declared on the north-east side of the building and has spread to the synagogue.
Tusken said that Amiot had been identified as a person of interest in the afternoon of September 9, after police conducted an investigation in the area, spotted as many surveillance videos as possible and followed up tracks. Police questioned two other people last week about the fire in the morning. Nor are considered suspicious.
On Friday, investigators met with St. Louis County Deputy Attorney Victoria Wanta to review the investigation. At that time, an arrest warrant was issued, Tusken said. Amiot was found arrested in downtown Duluth and interviewed on Friday afternoon.
Tusken did not want to comment further on Amiot's motives or how the fire had started, directing people to the criminal complaint that should be filed in the middle of the week in Duluth District Court. Duluth Fire Chief Shawn Krizaj stated that no Accelerator was found at the scene.
At the press conference, Phillip Sher, lay leader of the Israeli Adas Israel congregation, thanked all the participants in the survey and all those who made contact with him and the congregation with support.
"I've been there all my life and the first thing you think is an image of where you're going to go in. We're moving forward. start the services again, "Sher said. "True Judaism is in the heart – it is not in the building – and our heritage will continue with our hearts."
The news of the fire has spread around the world and has attracted attention on social media.
Related: The tragedy of Adas Israel pulls hard to talk about it
An extensive and intense investigation into the causes of the fire lasted all last week. It has mobilized approximately 20 investigators from the Duluth Police and Fire Departments and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This federal agency intervenes during the fire of a place of worship.
A firefighter from Duluth, identified as Ben Gasner, was injured during the fire. Krizaj stated that Gasner, who had been in service for 19 years, was recovering from a concussion suffered while fighting the fire.
The Adas Israel synagogue is home to a shul of modern orthodox Jewish families. Built in 1901, the synagogue was the last of its kind in Northland. To worship in the modern orthodox Jewish religion is to practice Jewish law by living in modern life.
New York author Sarah Rose is a descendant of one of the founders of the synagogue. She told the News Tribune Tribune Sunday that she was relieved to hear that the police did not suspect it was a hate crime.
"It's our biggest fear and I hope it will continue to be a lack of hate," Rose said.
Rose called Duluth her ancestral home. She has visited relatives and the synagogue often while traveling from her home in Chicago. Rose has watched the press conference from a distance and will continue to follow the story as it unfolds in court.
"No one here is looking for revenge," she says about Amiot. "He is innocent until proven otherwise."
Rose said that she had not intended to return to Duluth for a visit, but when she did, she always assumed that Adas Israel would still be there.
"I will not visit the ashes of Adas Israel," she said.
Rose says she's not only grateful to the local authorities who investigated, but also to the people who have maintained Adas Israel because of the dwindling number of visitors over the years.
"I hope they will get what they want and need, you could not ask better guys to make those choices," Rose said of David and Phillip. Sher. "I'm thinking of the world of David and Phillip."
Steve Hunegs, executive director of the Minnesota-Dakota Jewish Relations Council, also expressed relief that the authorities did not believe it was a hate crime.
"We understand that our Jewish community feels uncomfortable in the current political and social context where synagogues, mosques and predominantly black churches have been attacked in recent years," Hunegs said in a statement. at the News Tribune Sunday. "The image of a burning house of worship is a burning reminder of the challenges we face in the face of the rise of anti-Semitism and sectarianism in this country."
Hunegs said he had asked the public to abide by the investigation process and not to make his final judgment until the criminal complaint is revealed in full, later this week.
The Midwest Anti-Defamation League of Chicago said in a statement posted on Twitter that it was "relieved that investigators do not believe that the shooting of Adas Israel was a hate-motivated crime" and that " the reaction to Duluth is inspiring and that the ADL stands by the community. "
Mayor Emily Larson said at the press conference that the city continues to offer "sincere condolences, prayers and support to the entire Jewish community for their loss."
"They will not be able to advance alone," Larson said. "This community does amazing things for each other when we need them, and the time has come."
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