Affidavit: Suspect admitted setting Minnesota mosque fire to protest homelessness

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Court records say a 42-year-old man who is accused of arson at a St. Paul, Minnesota, mosque told investigators he set the fire to protest homelessness. Said Murekezi is charged with second-degree arson, second-degree burglary of a religious building and fifth-degree drug possession. He is accused of setting fire at the Oromo American Tawhid Islamic Center early Wednesday. A probable cause statement says Murekezi told investigators he was Muslim and burned the mosque because he was upset that homeless Muslims and others were not being helped. Court records say Murekezi was released from jail 36 hours before the fire. He has several previous convictions, including for arson.