Arsonist Torches University of Delaware Jewish Center

  • August 28, 2020

A fire at a Jewish center on the University of Delaware campus late Tuesday was intentionally set, authorities said Wednesday, though they have not called it a hate crime.

The blaze at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life broke out after 11 p.m., and it took firefighters nearly 40 minutes to bring it under control, the Newark Post reported. No injuries were reported.

The building was not occupied at the time, but sustained an estimated $75,000 in damage.

“It is heartbreaking to learn the fire at the Chabad Center was set intentionally,” Newark Mayor Jerry Clifton wrote in a statement. “This is a sickening act of hostility that threatens the safety and security of our inclusive, welcoming neighborhoods. My thoughts are with the Jewish community and those affected by this tragedy. I have faith that the Newark Police Department and partner agencies will work tirelessly to identify the individual or individuals responsible and bring them to justice.”

The facility is not owned by the university, but serves as a Jewish community center on campus and sponsors a registered student organization.

"It is an active part of UD’s religious, faith and spiritual diversity," University of Delaware President Dennis Assanis and José-Luis Riera, vice president for student life, said in a joint statement. "We affirm our solidarity with the Jewish community at this difficult time."

It was not clear if any suspects were identified.

Featured

  • Emerging Campus Access Control Solutions

    Emerging solutions in campus access control can mean different things. Usually, we expect the topic to focus on the very latest in door security products and solutions that have just been recently released or are about to be launched. After all, staying up on improvements to keep campuses safer is critical. Plus, it’s always interesting and exciting to learn what’s new and how innovations are going to better protect lives and assets and help the industry be even more successful. Read Now

  • Here’s How Instructional Audio Can Play a Key Role in School Safety

    Ensuring the safety of students and employees is critical in today’s educational environment. While the threat of a school shooting is in the back of everyone’s mind, the truth is there are many possible scenarios that could crop up at any time in classrooms, hallways, and other school spaces—from fights or altercations to a sick child or staff member who requires emergency attention. Read Now

  • How School Security Continues to Advance

    For more than 30 years, I’ve been fully immersed in security operations in K-12 schools, including working in school safety in Littleton, Colorado during the attack at Columbine High School in 1999. That incident, coupled with those before and since, underscores the critical need for continued improvement in safety and security measures in our schools. Thankfully, ongoing advancements in security technology enable prompt response to critical threats as well as daily operational efficiency Read Now

  • The Role of Trusted Access Control and Identity Management

    The diverse and dynamic campus environments of modern post-secondary institutions rely on multiple systems and processes to ensure campus security and operational efficiency. Read Now

Most   Popular

Webinars