San Francisco, CA, November 1, 2010 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed sympathy to members of the Mormon community after the suspected arsons of two Church of Latter Day Saints churches in South Salt Lake City, Utah.  The South Salt Lake City Police Department arrested a suspect, Patrick Ehat, who has been charged with two counts each of arson, criminal mischief and burglary, and reportedly has confessed to having set the fires.

“We support our friends in Utah who have been impacted by these disturbing incidents.  The South Salt Lake City Police Department should be commended for their responses to the arson of these houses of worship,” said Daniel S. Sandman, Director of ADL’s Central Pacific Region, which includes Utah.

“We expect the police will conduct a thorough investigation into the individual arrested, and if it is determined that hate was a motive in these crimes, we urge that hate crime charges be brought in this case.  The torching of religious buildings is simply intolerable.”