Arrest in connection with the arson attack on a UC Berkeley police vehicle and three other arson attacks

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UC BERKELEY – Authorities arrested a 34-year-old Oakland man Monday in connection with the firebombing of a UC Berkeley police vehicle and three other arson attacks at the school.

Casey Robert Goonan was taken to the Alameda County Jail. He is facing charges including arson and possession and use of explosive devices, Cal Fire said in a press release. His bail was set at $1 million.

Cal Fire said the attacks occurred this month but did not provide further details.

The attacks were investigated by the California Office of the State Fire Marshal’s Arson and Bomb Unit, UC Berkeley Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

It was not immediately clear if the attacks included a small fire set outside Koshland Hall last Thursday. Messages left with a Cal Fire spokesman were not immediately returned.

A group of Palestinian supporters claimed responsibility for the fire. In a social media post, Palestine Action US stated: “UCLA students were attacked last night, so we retaliated by setting off a firebomb on the UCB campus.”

The group said people close to the university had blocked a protesting student from speaking. They called for more UC Berkeley buildings to be burned down and threatened the entire university system with “our wrath of vengeance” if it did not divest from Israel.

No one was injured in the fire at Koshland Hall and the building was not damaged.

Check back later for updates.

Read more on The Mercury News

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