{"id":2532592,"date":"2026-01-11T15:33:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-11T20:33:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/suspect-arrested-after-fire-burns-oldest-mississippi-synagogue\/"},"modified":"2026-01-11T15:35:41","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T20:35:41","slug":"suspect-arrested-after-fire-burns-oldest-mississippi-synagogue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/suspect-arrested-after-fire-burns-oldest-mississippi-synagogue\/","title":{"rendered":"Suspect arrested after fire burns oldest Mississippi synagogue"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsuspect-arrested-after-fire-burns-oldest-mississippi-synagogue%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2532592&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A suspect was arrested and charged with arson after a fire damaged the Beth Israel synagogue in Jackson, Mississippi, early Saturday morning. The blaze, which the Jackson Fire Department extinguished, destroyed or damaged several Torahs in the synagogue&#8217;s library; no one was killed and no one suffered life-threatening injuries, though the suspect was hospitalized with non-life-threatening burns. authorities have not officially called the incident a hate crime, but Jackson&#8217;s mayor described it as an attack on the Jewish faith and religious freedom. Local investigators &#8211; including the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mississippi-tornado-storm-leaves-at-least-23-dead-and-four-missing\/\" title=\"... tornado storm leaves at least 23 dead and four missing\">fire department&#8217;<\/a>s arson division and the Jackson Police Department &#8211; are working with the ATF, the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force; the suspect will be taken into FBI custody after hospital discharge. Beth Israel, Jackson&#8217;s only synagogue and the oldest in Mississippi (founded in 1860), has a history of attacks, including a KKK bombing in 1967.Lawmakers and community leaders publicly condemned the incident as the inquiry continues.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Suspect arrested after fire burns oldest Mississippi synagogue<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2450447\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A suspect has been arrested <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mississippi\/\">in Mississippi<\/a> in connection with an incident that saw a fire burn and damage a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/synagogue\/\">19th-century synagogue<\/a> over the weekend.<\/p>\n<p>The alleged arsonist, whose name has not been released by authorities, targeted the Beth Israel synagogue in the capital of Jackson early Saturday morning. He was arrested and charged with arson later that day. The person was hospitalized for non-life-threatening burn injuries.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4413889\/shapiro-vance-minneapolis-ice-shooting\/\">Shapiro says Vance defense of Minneapolis ICE shooting makes community &#8216;less safe&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4413822\/new-law-restrict-homeless-las-vegas-strip\/\">New <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-law-restricts-homeless-people-on-las-vegas-strip\/\" title=\"New law restricts homeless people on Las Vegas Strip\">law restricts homeless people<\/a> on Las Vegas Strip<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4413768\/six-killed-in-mississippi-suspect-charged-with-murder\/\">Six killed in Mississippi, suspect charged with murder<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3837322\/trump-advises-that-anyone-burning-american-flag-will-be-imprisoned-for-a-year\/\">RUMP ADVISES THAT ANYONE BURNING AMERICAN FLAG WILL BE IMPRISONED FOR A YEAR<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Jackson Fire Department successfully extinguished the fire, but the flames managed to damage or destroy several Torahs in the synagogue&rsquo;s library. No one was injured or killed.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Zach Shemper, president of Beth Israel Congregation, stands in ashes outside the congregation&rsquo;s temple hours after the building was damaged by fire Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Jackson, Mississippi. (Allen Siegler\/Mississippi Today via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Authorities have not said whether the incident constitutes a hate crime, but Jackson Mayor John Horhn framed it as an attack on the Jewish faith and religious freedom.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Acts of antisemitism, racism, and religious hatred are attacks on Jackson as a whole and will be treated as threats to our residents&rsquo; safety and freedom to worship,&rdquo; Horhn <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid09i2jkZPA7wCDBWmQZ6jjY99x6k1UY5g8d3pXN4aarPaHmSRGjKn5H5tVeqnUoPsPl&amp;id=61566869953993\">said<\/a> Sunday morning. &ldquo;Targeting people because of their faith, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation is morally wrong, un-American and incompatible with the values of this city.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4393610\/margo-martin-praised-role-trump-social-media-presence\/\">MARGO MARTIN PRAISED FOR KEY ROLE IN TRUMP SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Jackson stands with Beth Israel and the Jewish community, and we&rsquo;ll do everything we can to support them and hold accountable anyone who tries to spread fear and hate here,&rdquo; he added.<\/p>\n<p>The Jackson Fire Department&rsquo;s arson division and the Jackson Police Department are leading the investigation in coordination with the ATF, the FBI, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force. After being discharged from the hospital, the suspect will be taken into FBI custody.<\/p>\n<p>Beth Israel, Jackson&rsquo;s only synagogue and the oldest in the state, was founded in 1860. Over the years, it has faced much damage. The building was once destroyed by fire in 1874. And in 1967, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ku-klux-klan\/\">Ku Klux Klan<\/a> bombed the synagogue. No one was killed in that attack.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) recounted the history of the building in a post on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-this-average-american-is-voting-for-donald-trump\/\" title=\"Why This Average American Is Voting for Donald Trump\">social media<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The arson against Beth Israel is a repeat of history. In 1967, the Ku Klux Klan bombed the same synagogue in a campaign of terror directed at Rabbi Perry Nussbaum, whose home was also bombed for his righteous alliance with the Civil Rights Movement,&rdquo; Ritchie <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RitchieTorres\/status\/2010391567366824375\">wrote on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Domestic terrorism against Jews never happens in a vacuum,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Instead of extinguishing the fires of antisemitism, American politics is often guilty of fanning the flames.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) also released a statement condemning the antisemitic attack.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4413096\/mamdani-called-to-denounce-we-support-hamas-chants-outside-nyc-synagogue\/\">MAMDANI CALLED ON TO DENOUNCE &lsquo;WE SUPPORT HAMAS&rsquo; CHANTS OUTSIDE NYC SYNAGOGUE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Our hearts are with the members of Beth Israel Congregation,&rdquo; Wicker <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenatorWicker\/status\/2010372342480843094\">posted on X<\/a>. &ldquo;We stand together with them as do all the caring people of Mississippi. We denounce violence and find attacks on places of worship especially despicable.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The investigation into the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >synagogue-burning incident remains ongoing<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Arson suspect arrested after Jackson synagogue fire<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2532593,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26011634784764.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[13856,33338,6632,48407,70597],"class_list":["post-2532592","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-arson","tag-hate-crime","tag-mississippi","tag-suspect-arrested","tag-synagogue-fire"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26011634784764.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2532592","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2532592"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2532592\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2532596,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2532592\/revisions\/2532596"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2532593"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2532592"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2532592"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2532592"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}