This weekend in South Florida the Jewish community experienced multiple incidents of hate. Police later clarified that one incident was not necessarily driven by hate.
Firstly, A Rabbi’s car was torched by an arsonist in front of his center in Ft Lauderdale, the fire then spread to the Las Olas Chabad Jewish Community Center building itself. Secondly, a violent protest erupted outside a Jewish event in Broward, multiple Jews with Israeli flags were physically assaulted by the “peace-loving” protestors.
The Rabbi of Chabad Las Olas provided the following surveillance footage of the arsonist setting his car and Shul ablaze. The video shows Scott Hannaford lighting the minivan and Shul ablaze at 7:00 AM Shabbos morning.
Man sets Jewish Rabbi’s car on fire in outside a synagogue in Florida.
CCTV shows the man burning the car in an arson attack.
The fire then caused a blaze to break out in the synagogue and community center at the The Florida Las Olas Chabad Jewish Center.
Police arrested a… pic.twitter.com/mL1FgeaFNW
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) March 18, 2024
Rabbi’s car incinerated by arsonist in front of his synagogue in Ft Lauderdale pic.twitter.com/LR5GYQ6Jpj
— Belaaz News (@TheBelaaz) March 18, 2024
The Center is currently raising funds to help provide some relief following the incident. The Center suffered significant damage from the fire. The Center has in it a Shul, Hebrew school, and community center, which were all damaged by the blaze, according to Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue and Las Olas Chabad.
Police arrested a 50 year old suspect, but said the incident is not being treated as an antisemitic hate crime.
Scott Hannaford, 50, has been apprehended and is facing charges including first and second-degree arson, felony criminal mischief to a synagogue, and possession of cocaine.
In a separate incident, a protest turned violent when pro-Palestine protestors assaulted multiple Jews outside a Jewish event in Broward.
View the Disturbing Footage below:
🇺🇸 *Hatred and Violence in South Florida:*
This weekend in South Florida for the Jewish community.
1. Rabbi’s car incinerated by arsonist in front of his synagogue in Ft Lauderdale (video in next post)
2. Violent protestors outside Jewish event in Broward, attack Jews… pic.twitter.com/D6OSEPkzJn
— Belaaz News (@TheBelaaz) March 18, 2024
Nice! The couple who walked right by.
Should have been carrying and defended himself.
Shame.on the person filming it and not calling 911
Please tell me how is this not an anti-semitic attack do you need your heads examined