$35G reward offered for info on arsons at local Jewish centers

New videos, details released

The FBI and Anti-Defamation League are offering a combined $35,000 award for information leading to the arrest of a suspected arsonist police say started fires at area Jewish community centers in May, the bureau announced Tuesday.

The FBI also released new videos of the suspect walking to and from the Chabad Centers in Arlington and Needham — where the three fires were set.

The FBI is offering $20,000 and the ADL is offering $15,000.

“Someone knows who is responsible for 3 Intentional fires at synagogues in #ArlingtonMA #NeedhamMA,” ADL New England tweeted. “Ending #Hate #Antisemitism means stepping up & calling @FBIBoston at 857386-2000.”

On May 11 at about 11 p.m., authorities responded to a fire at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life of Arlington-Belmont in Arlington.

Five days later at about 8:50 p.m., there was another fire at the same center. Later that night, just before 10 p.m., authorities responded to a fire at the Chabad Lubavitch Jewish Center in Needham.

Surveillance footage shows a man, approximately 5-foot-11, slowly walking to and from the locations where the fires were set. The man appeared to be wearing a dark North Face jacket with the hood pulled over his head and khaki pants. He also apparently carried unknown items in each hand.

In the Arlington video, three different cameras show the man walking down Lake Street in the immediate vicinity of the Chabad Center at the time of the fire.

In the Needham video, the same man walked in front of the Chabad Center toward the area where the fire was set. Less than two minutes later, he turned abruptly, looking back in the direction of the fire, and walked toward the street and down the sidewalk.

“Two families shared not only their religious faith but the expectation of feeling safe in their own homes, were visited by menacing intentions,” Joseph Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division, said in a statement. “Although surveillance video has given us a promising start to this investigation, it will be the public’s eyes that help us bring justice home to them. So if you recognize the individual in these videos, please contact us immediately.”