Suspect Arrested After Fire Damages Jackson Synagogue (Full Transcript)

FBI arrests 19-year-old accused of setting fire at Beth Israel in Jackson, citing antisemitic motive; synagogue previously targeted in 1967 KKK bombing.
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[00:00:00] Speaker 1: Surveillance video shared by Beth Israel Congregation shows a suspect pouring liquid that later caught fire and caused severe damage inside the Jackson, Mississippi Synagogue. The FBI announced they've arrested a suspect for starting a fire, who admitted to authorities he did it because of the temple's, quote, Jewish ties. According to the complaint, 19-year-old Steven Spencer Pitman called the temple the Synagogue of Satan. The AP reported the defendant said Jesus Christ is Lord when the judge read him his rites. In 1967, the same synagogue was bombed by local KKK members, in part because of the congregation's work in the civil rights movement, according to the synagogue's website. According to the complaint, the suspect's father turned him in to the authorities. Prosecutors said Pitman could face five to 20 years in prison if convicted as charged. CNN has reached out to the public defender representing Pitman for comment.

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Surveillance footage from Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi shows a suspect pouring liquid that later ignited, causing significant damage inside the synagogue. The FBI arrested 19-year-old Steven Spencer Pitman, who allegedly admitted he set the fire because of the temple’s Jewish ties, reportedly calling it the “Synagogue of Satan.” The suspect’s father reportedly alerted authorities. Pitman faces 5–20 years in prison if convicted; his public defender has not yet commented. The synagogue was previously bombed in 1967 by KKK members, partly due to its civil rights involvement.
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FBI Arrests Suspect in Jackson Synagogue Arson Case
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Jackson Mississippi Remove
Beth Israel Congregation Remove
synagogue fire Remove
arson Remove
FBI arrest Remove
Steven Spencer Pitman Remove
antisemitism Remove
hate crime Remove
civil rights history Remove
KKK bombing 1967 Remove
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Negative: The passage centers on an alleged antisemitic arson attack and historical violence against the synagogue, emphasizing harm, criminal charges, and fear/hostility.
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