Motzei Shabbos Roundup: Arson, and Bomb Scare At Chabad Houses This Friday

by CrownHeights.info

Two major incidents happened at Chabad Houses this Friday including the arson of Chabad of Charlotte County and a bomb scare at Chabad of Chabad UCSB.

Arson at Chabad of Charlotte County

Soon after Friday night davening ended, an unknown arsonist threw an incendiary device into a classroom at Chabad of Charlotte County. The device caught fire, sending flames and smoke pouring from the classroom window.

Firefighters responded to the Chabad House, run by Rabbi Simon Jacobson, and were forced to break into the building, dousing the fire quickly. Due to their fast response, the fire was contained to the one classroom, and damage was minimal.

The letter “J” was also spray painted in multiple places around the building.

The fire be being investigated by the police as an arson.

Bomb Scare at Chabad UC Santa Barbara

At approximately 5:00pm Friday afternoon, Sheriff’s Deputies received a report of a suspicious package at Chabad UC Santa Barbara. The bomb squad was called and the building evacuated.

After nearly three hours the package was deemed to be harmless and the building reopened.

Chabad UC Santa Barbara put out a message on social media as the incident was being investogated, informing the students that “In an abundance of caution, the local police have evacuated and blocked off the alleyway leading to Chabad to check a suspicious package, so we are pushing off Shabbat dinner to 8:30.The police are saying we may be in the all clear by then. Bh everyone is safe! Shabbat shalom!”