Lod: Vandals torch synagogue
Minor damage to temple structure after unknown assailants hurl Molotov cocktail through one of its windows. Police launch investigation, probe nationalist motives
Unknown vandals hurled a Molotov cocktail into a synagogue in the city of Lod on Wednesday, sparking a small fire. No injuries were reported, but the structure sustained minor damage.
Police have launched an investigation into the incident, and have yet to determine whether the motive appears criminal or nationalist in nature.
An initial investigation revealed that the perpetrators opened one of the synagogue's windows and threw a bottle full of a flammable liquid into the room, which was empty at the time.
The bottle caught fire, which spread to the nearby curtains before dying out on its own. It wasn’t until the late afternoon hours that the synagogue's caretaker noticed the damage and alerted the police.
Lod's was the second incident of vandalism involving a synagogue in recent days. Saturday saw a hesder yeshiva in the northern city of Akko set aflame. No injuries were reported in the incident, but the building sustained significant damage.
The city's firefighting services reported that an initial investigation into the incident pointed to arson. The Akko Police are still investigating.
