Hate Crime Alert

This is latest in dozens of attacks by New York Muslims against Jews and Jewish sites.

Man arrested in temple arson attempt

January 9, 2003, 5:43 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) A 22-year-old Bosnian man tried to burn a Brooklyn synagogue by pouring gasoline on it until a gas station attendant called 911, police said.

Sead Jakup, of the borough's Sheepshead Bay neighborhood, faces charges of arson, aggravated harassment and criminal mischief, said Sgt. Michael Wysokowski, a police spokesman.

Jakup filled a canister with gasoline from an Ocean Avenue gas station early Thursday and poured it around the front door of Congregation B'Nai Israel of Sheepshead Bay, a synagogue across the street, police said.

A gas station attendant saw the crime in progress and alerted police, who arrested Jakup around 4:30 a.m., authorities said.

"We're very, very upset," said Allen Popper, co-president of the congregation. "It's a very traumatic thing for a lot of people."

There was no listed telephone number for Jakup.


Copyright © 2003, The Associated Press

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