Chabad Lubavitch Fire May Have Been An Accident, Not A Hate Crime

The New York Daily News reports the fire that burned the wooden base of a menorah outside Chabad Lubavitch of Kensington (605 Ocean Parkway between Ditmas and 18th Avenue) early Wednesday morning may not have been a hate crime as previously suspected, but the result of a carelessly-disposed of cigarette.

The blaze was particularly alarming, occurring just before Rosh Hashanah celebrations were about to begin. However while a source tells the Daily News that it “doesn’t appear to be suspicious,” and News 12 reports there were cigarette butts found in the debris next to the menorah, the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is continuing to investigate until the FDNY officially deems the fire accidental.