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Woman arrested for pouring gas, lighting fire outside Brooklyn yeshiva

By FOX 5 NY Staff
Updated  October 18, 2021 11:27am EDT
Flatbush
FOX 5 NY

Hate crime task force searching for suspected Yeshiva arsonist

Governor Kathy Hochul has directed New York's hate crimes task force to help track down a suspected arsonist who targeted a Yeshiva in Brooklyn.

NEW YORK - The NYPD says it has arrested a woman seen in a shocking video starting a fire outside of a yeshiva in Brooklyn on Thursday. 

Police say Sharee Jones, 39, was caught on surveillance video pouring gasoline in a straight line and lighting it on fire outside of the Yeshiva of Flatbush Thursday evening.

A security guard managed to douse the fire with water and extinguish the flames. No injuries were reported. 

In the aftermath of the attack Mayor Bill de Blasio called the act "vile" in a tweet, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she was directing the state's Hate Crimes Task Force to help find the suspect. 

"I want to make it very clear that this cowardly act of hate has no home here in New York," Hochul said. 

Jones is facing charges of reckless endangerment as a hate crime and arson. 

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Search for yeshiva arsonist

The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is searching for the woman who poured gasoline in front of a yeshiva in Midwood, Brooklyn and lighted the substance on fire.