A 33-year-old man has been charged in connection with a series of fires at a dorm at Yeshiva University.
Peter Weyand was captured on surveillance footage breaking into Schottenstein Residence Hall at Yeshiva University on East 29th Street early Friday while students were sleeping — and FDNY officials say he then used matches intended for a Hanukkah menorah to start the blazes.
Firefighters responded quickly to the university’s Schottenstein Residence and put the fires out. Nobody was injured.
“Attacking any religious institution is a serious crime and we have zero tolerance for acts of arson in the city,” said FDNY Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro in a statement.
“Thanks to the thorough investigative work of our Fire Marshals, a dangerous individual has been quickly apprehended.”
Fire officials said that there was no evidence he had targeted the building because of the religion of the students who lived there.
“There is no indication of a hate crime,” Deputy Commissioner Frank Dwyer said.
The authorities believe Weyand, whose LinkedIn profile lists him as a freelance software engineer, was under the influence of drugs at the time of the episode, said a law enforcement official familiar with the case who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is continuing.
Weyand is charged with arson, burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal tresspass and aggravated harassment.
