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Man Charged With Hate Crime, Arson In New York Islamic Center Attacks

Paige Brettingen |
January 4, 2012 | 9:52 a.m. PST

Executive Producer

 

Courtesy of Creative Commons
Courtesy of Creative Commons
A man who allegedly confessed to New Year's Day attacks at an Islamic cultural center and four other sites in the New York area, has been charged with a hate crime and four counts of arson, according to The L.A. Times:

The suspect, Ray Lazier Lengend, 40, is said to have made firebombs from glass Starbucks bottles and one beer can that were then thrown at the various locations, reported police Commissioner Raymond Kelly to the AP.  There were no injuries and little damage.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg promised the city that there would be "no tolerance for discrimination," reported The L.A. Times:

  • Now, law enforcement officials are trying to piece together not just the string of attacks, but also a motive. The New York Times reports that investigators believe Lengend was trying to settle scores against those he believed had wronged him. The center, for example, was deemed to have mistreated Lengend when he asked to use its bathroom. The convenience store owner allegedly tossed Lengend out after he was caught shoplifting.
  • The New York Times also reports that Lengend has been arrested several times in the past, including on drug possession charges, grand larceny and possession of bad checks.

Witnesses also reported the suspect made threats as he was escorted out, Kelly said.

“When they were pushing him out of the store, he said words to the effect that, ‘We’re going to get even. We’re going to get back at you,’” Kelly said.

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