Suspect arrested on suspicion of firebombing at UC Berkeley

BERKELEY, Calif. (KGO) – Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, arrested a suspect on Tuesday in connection with four separate arsons on the UC Berkeley campus – including a firebombing of a police vehicle.

Although Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price has not yet filed charges, she may have until Thursday to do so.

The arson attacks occurred during otherwise largely peaceful pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus.

MORE: 3 injured at UC Berkeley camp after days of peaceful gathering, university says

The suspect’s attorney, Jeff Wozniak, believes the law enforcement investigation was political in nature.

He believes that investigators want to blame the suspect because he opposes the war between Israel and Hamas.

“I have not been presented with any evidence linking my client to these incidents,” Wozniak said.

The arson attacks have provoked strong reactions in the community.

MORE: Police arrest 12 pro-Palestinian protesters, clear UC Berkeley hall: authorities

In a Bank statement sent to XThe Jewish Community Relations Council stated:

“Property damage, violence and threats are not forms of peaceful protest. Resorting to illegal methods of intimidation will not end the war against Hamas. These attempts to harass and attack not only Jews and Israelis, but the entire Bay Area community are wrong and desperate. We are proud to be Jews. We will not live in fear.”

The suspect is being held in the Alameda County Jail on $1 million bail.

The suspect is also currently involved in a vandalism case that occurred last fall in San Francisco.