Nicholas Malindretos arrested for allegedly throwing Molotov cocktail at New Jersey synagogue
BLOOMFIELD, N.J. -- A suspect has been taken into custody after the attempted firebombing of a Bloomfield synagogue.
Surveillance video shows a masked man who police say threw a Molotov cocktail at Temple Ner Tamid on Sunday. The bottle broke but didn't ignite.
The U.S. Attorney's Office says 26-year-old Nicholas Malindretos, of Clifton, was arrested Wednesday and charged with attempted use of fire to damage and destroy a building used in interstate commerce.
Investigators say a license plate reader identified a car seen near the synagogue at the time of the attack, leading them to the suspect.
"I would like him to learn from this and to realize that we as a community are not those things that he fears and hates, but rather we are a diverse, loving, open community," Rabbi Marc Katz said Wednesday night.
Detectives are still looking into the suspect's background to see if mental or emotional issues played a factor in the attack.
"There are many people with mental illness in this country that would never think to do what he did. Which means that there has to be a hate element to why he chose us," Rabbi Katz said. "So my heart goes out to him. And at the same time, I'm not sure that one can discount the fact that he chose us as a target."
The FBI joined the case to help local authorities track down the suspect.
"An attempted firebombing on a house of worship is an attack against the entire community," the acting special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said in a statement.
Gov. Phil Murphy also weighed in on the case the other day.
"Absolutely despicable. Unfortunately, the amount of antisemitic actions in New Jersey is almost exploding," he said.
Malindretos is due to appear in Newark federal court Thursday.
If found guilty, he could face 5 to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.