By Madeleine Hubbard

Published: March 17, 2024 12:06pm

A man was arrested in connection to an arson attack at a Florida Jewish community center, which suffered major damage just hours before services were set to begin.

Scott Hannaford, 50, was arrested Saturday in Fort Lauderdale on four charges, including first- and second-degree arson, criminal mischief involving a house of worship and possession of cocaine, according to Broward County Sheriff's Office records.

Police said the arson incident at the Las Olas Chabad Jewish Community Center is not being considered a hate crime, according to NBC Miami.

Security footage from the community center shows a man lighting the van belonging to the center's rabbi on fire and then unsuccessfully trying to light the building on fire, Rabbi Chaim Slavaticki said.

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue said the fire began in a vehicle next to the building and it then extended into the building. The center's kitchen was totally damaged and the entire building has smoke damage, per the local outlet.

Slavaticki said he has seen Hannaford multiple times before. Most recently, he saw Hannaford on Friday as he was standing in an alley by the center and yelling at the rabbi's family to drive around him, Slavaticki said.

While the rabbi's van is destroyed, a Jewish prayer book that was inside the vehicle remains intact, Slavaticki said. "This is a hug from God and God is telling us to all stand together and we always have to at times like this to turn back to our prayer books, turn back to God."

Because the attack occurred hours before services were set to begin, the congregation held services outside on Saturday.

The center is currently raising money to rebuild.

https://justthenews.com/nation/crime/man-arrested-allegedly-burning-down-florida-jewish-community-center