Mississippi Synagogue Arson Targeted Jews, Suspect Confessed to FBI

A Mississippi man charged with setting fire to a synagogue in Jackson early Saturday confessed to federal investigators that he targeted the building because of its “Jewish ties,” according to an FBI affidavit filed in U.S. District Court.

Stephen Spencer Pittman was charged Monday with maliciously damaging or destroying a building by means of fire or an explosive. Prosecutors say the blaze tore through Beth Israel Congregation, destroying two Torah scrolls and heavily damaging the synagogue’s library and offices. No injuries were reported.

The case quickly moved from suspected hate crime to a confirmed antisemitic attack after Pittman’s admissions to law enforcement. In interviews with the FBI and local authorities, Pittman allegedly referred to the building as a “synagogue of Satan” and acknowledged that he deliberately chose the site because it was Jewish, the affidavit states.

According to investigators, Pittman was in repeated contact with his father before and after the attack. Text messages cited in court filings include references to removing his license plate, wearing a hoodie, and scouting security cameras. After the fire, Pittman allegedly told his father he was due for “a home run” and that he had “done his research.” The following morning, he reportedly laughed while describing the arson and said he had “finally got them.” His father then contacted authorities, prompting the FBI to corroborate the confession with GPS data, text messages, and surveillance footage.

Investigators say the arson was carefully planned. Pittman allegedly stopped at a gas station to buy fuel, removed his license plate, used an ax to break a window to gain entry, and poured gasoline across the synagogue floor before igniting it with a torch lighter. Surveillance footage obtained by the FBI shows a figure splashing liquid inside the building moments before flames erupted. A cell phone and hand torch believed to belong to Pittman were found at the scene.

The fire rendered the synagogue inoperable for an indefinite period. Two Torahs were destroyed, several others were damaged, and services have been suspended. Congregation president Zach Shemper told CNN that law enforcement informed him the suspect had been posting antisemitic content on social media prior to the attack.

Jewish leaders and officials condemned the arson as antisemitic. Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said the destruction of a historic synagogue and sacred Torahs was “not random vandalism” but “a deliberate, targeted attack on the Jewish community.” The American Jewish Committee said it was “outraged by the arson attack,” calling it “the most recent symptom of the dangerous rising antisemitism facing Jewish communities across the country and around the world.”

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he was “horrified by this violent act of antisemitism,” adding that the public must reject hatred with unity and stand “steadfast alongside our Jewish brothers and sisters.” U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt described the incident as “a major tragedy,” saying it was “more than that” and warning it represented “another step in the globalization of the intifada.”

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon labeled the fire a “heinous antisemitic act of terror,” warning that “any attack on the Jewish community is crossing a red line,” and urged U.S. authorities to act firmly. Jackson Mayor John Horhn said he had spoken with synagogue leadership and expressed hope for a “swift resolution,” calling on residents to move beyond hatred and “find a way where we can all get together and get along.”

Federal officials said the Justice Department would pursue severe penalties. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that prosecutors were directed to seek harsh punishment for what she described as an act of antisemitic violence, while FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau would not waver in protecting Jewish communities. If convicted, Pittman faces between five and 20 years in federal prison.

The attack revived painful history for the Jackson congregation. Founded in 1860, Beth Israel was bombed by Ku Klux Klan members in 1967 after its rabbi supported civil rights.