Suspect in NY fire-bombings being held without bail

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – A New York City man  accused in a series of New Year’s Day Molotov cocktail attacks  that hit a mosque and a Hindu place of worship has been ordered  held without bail, prosecutors said yesterday.

Ray Lazier Lengend

Ray Lazier Lengend, a 40-year-old unemployed tow-truck  driver from Guyana, was arraigned at Bellevue Hospital Center,  where he is under psychological observation.

He is accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at five  locations in Queens and Long Island, including firebombs aimed  at the front entrance of the Imam al-Khoei Foundation, a Shi’ite  organization in the New York City borough of Queens, while some  75 to 80 people were inside.

No injuries were reported but one of the private homes  suffered severe fire damage.

According to police and prosecutors, Lengend was motivated  by both anti-Muslim bias and personal grudges.

“In response to being asked why he would attack a mosque the  defendant stated that he hated all the Muslims and Arabs because  they were trying to take over his life. They have been doing it  for 40 years,” according to a court document provided by the  Queens District Attorney’s Office.

Lengend’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request  for comment.

Lengend faces charges of first-degree arson, arson as a hate  crime, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession  of stolen property, among other charges.

If convicted, he faces up to 25 years to life in prison.