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Woman arrested in New York City, accused of attempting to set fire to Jewish school

Generic police tape scene. A blurred police car in the background behind yellow crime scene tape. [Via MerlinFTP Drop]

A woman was arrested Sunday afternoon for allegedly using gasoline to start a fire at a Jewish school in New York City.

The woman was identified as 39-year-old Sharee Jones, and she was arrested on charges of attempted arson and reckless endangerment.

Witnesses said they saw Jones fleeing on foot from the school, Yeshiva of Flatbush, carrying a red canister and wearing dark clothing on the evening of Oct. 14.

A security guard saw the fire and was able to put it out before it spread. No one was injured.

New York City Police Department's Hate Crimes task force posted a Twitter video on Thursday showing a woman holding a red canister of gasoline, asking for witnesses to come forward to help identify the woman.

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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio expressed how their displeasure with the incident via Twitter.

"Last night, an unidentified individual poured gasoline in front of the Yeshiva of Flatbush & ignited it," Hochul tweeted. "These cowardly acts of hate have no home here."

Also, de Blasio described the incident as "an attack on all New Yorkers."

"An attack on one of our yeshivas is an attack on all New Yorkers, and we WILL bring this person to justice," he posted on Twitter Friday.

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Follow Naomi Ludlow on Twitter: @itsnaomikay

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jewish school set on fire in NYC; suspect arrested Sunday