Partially burnt religious book in vandalized synaogue
Partially burnt religious book in vandalized synaogueFLASH90

Jerusalem police have arrested a man they say was likely responsible for the desecration of a Jerusalem synagogue Wednesday morning.

A police spokesperson reported Wednesday afternoon that authorities had taken a 38-year old man into custody hours after members of the Lelov-Nikolsburg Hasidic sect found that their synagogue in Mekor Baruch had been vandalized.

“Police units in Jerusalem arrested a man, age 38, suspected of being behind the incidents in Jerusalem this morning when graffiti and damage was caused to synagogue books,” the spokesperson said.

“The suspect is being questioned by police as part of an ongoing investigation when graffiti was found in two different areas of the city.”

Congregants were stunned Wednesday morning to find swastikas scrawled on the synagogue’s walls. In addition, several religious books had been partially burned by the vandal.

Police were called to investigate, and later found swastikas painted on nearby apartment buildings.

Shas chairman and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri said he was “horrified” by the incident.

“I was horrified to hear about the disturbing act of vandalism committed in the Lelov study hall in Jerusalem. This is a serious attack against all of us. It is hard to believe that a terrible hate crime like this against religious Jews could take place in the heart of the State of Israel.”