A man suspected of setting off a bomb at a synagogue in California last week has been arrested in Cleveland, federal officials said Monday.
The LA Times, citing sources, reported that Hirsch was arrested near a Chabad House in Cleveland.
Ron Hirsch, 60, a transient, was linked to items found in and around a hunk of concrete and large pipe that flew some 25 feet into the air after the Thursday explosion at Chabad House Lubavitch of Santa Monica, Santa Monica police Sgt. Jay Trisler said in a statement Friday.
“The device appeared to have been deliberately constructed,” Trisler said. “Based on his suspected involvement in this incident, Hirsch is considered extremely dangerous,” Trisler said.
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Hirsch, who is known to spend time at synagogues and Jewish community centers seeking charity, is wanted on state charges of possession of a destructive device and unrelated local charges, Trisler said.
Surveillance cameras captured pictures of him getting off the bus in Denver Friday, then buying a ticket for another east-bound bus. Officials say he was arrested Monday night after a tip from a member of the public.
Investigators have not yet identified a motive for the bombing.
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Authorities initially believed a worker was trying to remove the pipe from concrete when a chemical mixture created pressure and launched the 4-foot-long pipe and plug of concrete into the air.
The explosion shattered windows, punched a hole in the synagogue, and sent the pipe ricocheting into a neighboring house where a young boy was sleeping. There were no injuries.
