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Investigators said Sunday that a man accused of burning down a historic Minnesota synagogue last week does not appear to have been motivated by religious bias.
Matthew Amiot, 36, was accused of burning the synagogue of the Adas Israel congregation in Duluth on Monday night. A possible motive had not been established.
"After all the information I've reviewed … there is no reason to believe at the moment that it's a bias-motivated or hate-motivated crime," he said. said Duluth police chief Mike Tusken at a press conference, according to Minnesota Public Radio. "It may change … but for the moment, it's the determination I have."
Firefighters working on the scene of the fire that ravaged and destroyed a synagogue in downtown Duluth last Monday. (Brooks Johnson / Star Tribune via AP)
Amiot, who does not have a fixed address at Duluth, was arrested on Friday and jailed for murder, according to investigators.
THE FIRE DESTROYS THE HISTORICAL SYNAGOGUE OF MINNESOTA; CAUSE IN THE INVESTIGATION
Amiot had a criminal record of previous arrests, reported MPR.
The fire began in a shed outside the synagogue and spread into the building earlier Monday, said Fire Chief Shawn Krizaj. No accelerator was found.
At the press conference, Rabbi Phillip Sher of the synagogue praised the firefighters' heroic efforts to save artifacts and religious artifacts from the burning building, the radio reported.
THE SYNAGOGUE OF THE MAN OUTSIDE FLORIDA IS INJURED DURING A TURNING, THE POLICE SAYS
"I will not speculate on the motives of man, and I want to warn everyone – you are innocent until proven otherwise, and that is America as it stands. must, "Sher said. "We do not want revenge, all I can find from this event is sadness for everyone."
The synagogue was built in 1902.
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The rescuers recovered eight of the 14 Torah scrolls from the fire.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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