ABC News September 15, 2019

Suspect identified in blaze that destroyed historic Minnesota synagogue

WATCH: Massive fire destroys historic synagogue in Minnesota

Minnesota police have identified the suspect allegedly responsible for sparking a fire that destroyed a historic Minnesota synagogue on Monday.

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Duluth resident Matthew John Amiot, 36, was arrested last week on a charge of arson for allegedly starting the fire at the Adas Israel Congregation in downtown Duluth, the city's police chief Mike Tusken said in a press conference on Sunday.

Brooks Johnson/Star Tribune via AP
Firefighters work the scene of an overnight fire that engulfed and destroyed a synagogue in downtown Duluth, Minn., Sept. 9, 2019.

Firefighters spent more than 12 hours battling the flames after they broke out Monday around 2 a.m.

Despite the destruction, there is no evidence that the arson was the result of a bias or hate crime, Tusken said. The point of origin for the fire was outside the structure, and no accelerants appear to have been used, he added.

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The synagogue was built more than 120 years ago, Mayor Emily Larson said in a press conference last week.

A spokesperson for the fire department described the structure as "pretty much a total loss," The Associated Press reported. Eight of 14 Torah scrolls were saved.

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The congregation is Orthodox/High Conservative Jewish and serves 75 members, according to AP.

Additional information was not immediately available.

ABC News' Ben Stein contributed to this report.