Serial arsonist targets Jewish neighborhood in New York City
Six homes in a Queens neighborhood heavily populated by Bukharian Jews have been set on fire so far, all belonging to Jews. Police and residents still do not know what motivates the perpetrators.
Over the past six weeks, an arsonist has burned six buildings in the same area of eastern Queens, police say. Four of the fires hit new homes that were still under construction, including one house that was burned twice. No one so far has been injured.
The arsonist's motive is still a mystery. One theory is that he is targeting opulent, oversized homes that have been replacing the neighborhood's modest dwellings. Another holds that the person behind the fires is disturbed.
Most of the victims have been Bukharian Jews, a group that fled persecution in Central Asia."
The motives are — I wish we knew," New York Police Department Commissioner William Bratton told reporters Monday. "At this time we do not think it is a terrorist act or a hate crime."
"I don't know what to think," said Rabbi Zalman Zvulonov, whose future home,
still under construction, was torched early Monday — the second time it was targeted in three weeks. "There are only Jewish houses burning, so that tells you something. But I couldn't point a finger. I don't know."
"I don't know what to think," said Rabbi Zalman Zvulonov, whose future home, still under construction, was torched early Monday — the second time it was targeted in three weeks. "There are only Jewish houses burning, so that tells you something. But I couldn't point a finger. I don't know."
Bukharian Jews immigrated to New York in the 1980s from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and throughout Central Asia. Many have done well. Behind fortress-like fences, luxury cars are parked in the driveways of rebuilt multi-story homes.
"It could be just a crazy fanatic ... but nothing happens for no reason," said John Yakuboy, who emigrated from Uzbekistan in 1980.
