A 49-year-old man was arrested today on suspicion of pouring flammable material into the Gat Church, burning it and causing damage. • Four firefighters were on the scene and the police suspect that the background is criminal.
Gat Shemanim Church in East Jerusalem, today
Photography:
The District of Jerusalem
An unusual incident occurred this afternoon (Friday) in the east of the city of Jerusalem, after a 49-year-old man apparently poured flammable material inside a winepress church and set fire to one of the benches.
Four firefighters worked to put out the fire and are now ventilating the building.
Police forces who arrived at the scene arrested for questioning the suspect in the commission of the acts.
A statement from the police said that a 49-year-old man, a 49-year-old resident of the city, arrived at the synagogue in the afternoon and spilled flammable material and set it on fire.
As a result, one of the benches was slightly damaged and firefighters operating in the arena reported that a lot of smoke had accumulated in the church.
The Jerusalem police said that the guard at the scene identified what was happening, located the suspect in the acts and detained him until police arrived at the scene, and they, as stated, arrested him for further investigation.
A preliminary investigation by the Jerusalem Police about the incident and according to the details of the suspect in the commission of the acts, the presumption is strengthened that the background to the incident is criminal.
