Police in Queens say a man was arrested after Molotov cocktails were allegedly thrown at two houses of worship and a nearby commercial building late Wednesday night. According to officials, the incidents occurred in Ozone Park and Woodhaven, and there were no reported injuries; FDNY and NYPD units responded to multiple calls that evening.
Police say the suspect, identified by authorities as 36-year-old Yogesh Sayrange, moved between sites on Rockaway Boulevard and nearby side streets before officers detained him just after midnight. Officials said surveillance footage and on-scene evidence helped investigators locate and arrest the suspect, and two additional incendiary devices were recovered at the time of his arrest.
Molotov cocktails thrown in Queens
According to police and law enforcement sources, a Molotov cocktail was allegedly hurled at Iglesia Bautista El Mesias in Ozone Park shortly before 11 p.m. Surveillance footage published by media outlets appears to show a man lighting a bottle and tossing it over the front gate toward the church entrance, police say.
Minutes later, investigators say a second device was thrown at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses on 78th Street in Woodhaven. Authorities also reported a third apparent incendiary thrown at a commercial ambulance service building on Rockaway Boulevard near 77th Street. The FDNY and NYPD responded to the three sites, and officials said there were no reported injuries or major structural damage at any location.
Surveillance and evidence
Investigators say published surveillance video — reported by outlets including the New York Post — appears to show a man lighting an object and then throwing it toward the gate at the Ozone Park church. Police say the footage captured the suspect speaking briefly with three other men before the device was ignited and tossed.
Law enforcement sources told reporters that officers recovered two additional Molotov cocktails in a backpack when they arrested the suspect. Fire marshals from the FDNY and NYPD investigators are conducting forensic examinations of the recovered devices and reviewing all available footage as part of an active probe, police say. Authorities are also canvassing nearby businesses and residences for further surveillance and witness accounts.
Arrest and charges
Police say they took Yogesh Sayrange into custody at about 12:10 a.m. Thursday. At the time of the arrest, officers reportedly recovered the two incendiary devices from his backpack. Sayrange was transported to police custody for questioning and processing, officials said.
According to reporting, Sayrange appeared in federal court Thursday in connection with a separate June 25 incident, when prosecutors allege an incendiary device was thrown into a Brooklyn business. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York has been contacted for additional comment, Fox News reported. Authorities cautioned that the Queens incidents and the Brooklyn case are part of an ongoing inquiry and that formal charges in the Queens matters may be refined as the investigation continues.
Buildings targeted and local details
Authorities named the specific sites under investigation: Iglesia Bautista El Mesias on 75th Street in Ozone Park and a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses on 78th Street in Woodhaven. A commercial ambulance service building on Rockaway Boulevard near 77th Street was also reportedly struck. All three locations sit within a close radius, and police say they responded to multiple 911 reports late Wednesday.
FDNY fire marshals and NYPD units remained at or near the scenes to complete examinations and secure evidence, according to officials. Investigators told reporters they were checking whether any additional surveillance — including private business cameras and doorbell footage — captured the movements of the suspect or any associates before and after the incidents.
Why it matters
Attacks on houses of worship raise urgent community safety concerns, officials said, even when no one is physically hurt. Neighbors and congregants in Ozone Park and Woodhaven told reporters they were shaken by the reports and expressed relief that there were no injuries. Police emphasized the importance of community cooperation and urged anyone with information to come forward.
Authorities also noted the potential for a broader pattern if links to other recent incidents are confirmed. Fire marshals are focused on technical examinations of the devices to determine construction and origin, while NYPD detectives continue interviews and evidence collection to establish motive and whether additional suspects were involved.
What comes next
Investigators said they will continue to review surveillance footage, forensic evidence, and witness statements. Police asked the public to submit tips through NYPD Crime Stoppers or by calling the local precinct. The FDNY and NYPD indicated that updates would be released as evidence is processed and any additional charges are filed.
Background
Officials said they were also checking for possible links to similar reports from the past month. Authorities have not publicly confirmed any motive in the Queens incidents, and prosecutors will decide whether to pursue federal or state charges based on the investigation’s findings and any connections to other alleged incidents.
FAQ
Was anyone hurt in the attacks?
Police and fire officials say there were no reported injuries at any of the three sites.
What charges does the suspect face?
Authorities said the investigation is active. Sayrange appeared in federal court Thursday on an unrelated June 25 incendiary allegation in Brooklyn; officials say charges tied specifically to the Queens incidents may be forthcoming as investigators complete their work.
How can community members report tips or concerns?
Police asked residents with information to contact the NYPD or submit tips to Crime Stoppers. Local precincts and FDNY public affairs can also be contacted for updates.
Source: Fox News — Queens man arrested with Molotov cocktails after alleged arson attacks on Ozone Park and Woodhaven churches
