NY Arson Suspect Faces Federal, State Hate Charges

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City man accused of four New Year’s Day arson attacks, including one on an Islamic cultural center, has been indicted on state and federal hate crimes charges.

Ray Lazier Lengend was charged with arson as a hate crime and other charges accusing him of throwing Molotov cocktails at four buildings, including the Islamic cultural center and a home used as a Hindu temple. No one was injured in the attacks.

Authorities say Lengend had personal grievances with all of the targets and made broad anti-Muslim statements.

The indictments were unsealed Monday in Queens Supreme Court and Brooklyn Federal Court. Information on Lengend’s lawyer was not immediately available.

Lengend faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count of arson as a hate crime.