MIAMI —A man facing eviction in Miami Beach was planning to burn down the condo and target in particular the Jewish residents, the Miami Herald reported.
Miami Beach police said that 72-year-old Walter Edward Stolper was charged with attempted murder after detectives found 28 containers with gasoline and explosive materials inside is storage unit. They also found artifacts with swastikas and books of Nazi ideology.
Police said Stolper told witness Luis Diaz that he was “going to burn down the building, located on Collins Avenue, with all the f—— Jews,” according to the arrest report.
Stolper said that he purchased two electrical fans “to fan the flames and cause maximum amount of damage.”
“His motivation appears to be triggered by an upcoming eviction and anger towards Jewish neighbors,” Miami Beach police said.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) praised local and federal law enforcement for the fast action. “We commend the Miami Beach Police Department, led by Chief Daniel J. Oates, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for taking this tip seriously, and for the swift investigation which undoubtedly thwarted a potential mass-casualty event,” ADL said.
“Based on available public information about the incident, we urge the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office to take a hard look at reclassifying and prosecuting this incident as a hate crime,” the organisation added.
“We are confident the work of our detectives prevented an imminent crisis at 5601 Collins Ave.,” police said. after the arrest of Walter Edward Stolper on a charge of attempted arson in the first degree.