A historic synagogue in Mississippi that was once bombed by the Ku Klux Klan during the civil rights era was reportedly attacked again over the weekend, in what local officials are treating as a serious and potentially terror-related act.
Authorities say a suspect is now in custody after a fire was intentionally set at Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, early Saturday morning, shortly after 3 a.m. Jackson Mayor John Horhn said the city is treating the incident as an act of terrorism, citing the synagogue’s history and the nature of the attack.
“Acts of antisemitism, racism and religious hatred are attacks on Jackson as a whole,” Horhn said. “Targeting people because of their faith, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation is morally wrong, un-American and completely incompatible with the values of this city.”
The fire caused significant damage to the synagogue’s library and administrative offices. According to Mississippi Today, two Torah scrolls were destroyed in the blaze, and five others were heavily damaged. One Torah, which survived the Holocaust and was preserved in a glass case, was not harmed. The synagogue’s Tree of Life plaque, which records important moments and honors members of the congregation, was also charred in the fire. No injuries were reported.
Congregation president Zach Shemper said the Jewish community has received an outpouring of support in the aftermath of the attack. “We have already had outreach from other houses of worship in the Jackson area and greatly appreciate their support in this very difficult time,” he said.
Officials have not yet formally classified the fire as a hate crime, and the identity of the suspect in custody has not been released. Jackson Fire Department Chief Fire Investigator Charles Felton said firefighters initially responded to reports of a possible church fire. When the cause of the blaze could not be immediately determined, arson investigators were called in.
Members of the synagogue initially believed the fire may have been caused by lightning or severe weather that passed through Mississippi overnight, but investigators found no evidence to support that theory.
Multiple agencies are assisting in the investigation, including the Jackson Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force.
“I was at Beth Israel yesterday, and I saw firsthand how our partners stepped up,” Mayor Horhn said. “Their work led to the swift arrest of a suspect, and we’ll continue to support their efforts as the investigation moves forward.”
The attack carries deep historical weight. Beth Israel Congregation, which dates back to before the Civil War, was bombed in 1967 by members of the Ku Klux Klan. Mayor Horhn said he remembers that earlier attack, even though he was young at the time.
“I do remember that the Jewish community and the African American community in those days formed alliances and partnerships to fight racism, to fight injustice, to fight mistreatment of citizens for whatever reason,” he said.
The incident comes amid a sharp rise in antisemitic violence nationwide. High-profile attacks in recent years include the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in 2018 and the Bondi Beach terror attack just before Christmas. The Anti-Defamation League reported more than 9,000 documented antisemitic incidents in 2024 alone, the highest number recorded since the organization began tracking such data in 1979.
The investigation into the Jackson synagogue fire remains ongoing as authorities work to determine motive and formally classify the crime.
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