CROWN HEIGHTS — Four boys were arrested for the burning of an empty school bus caught on video in Crown Heights this week, which police continue to investigate as a hate crime, NYPD officials said.
The boys “purposely” set the fire with “prior planning,” placing cardboard boxes on each of the bus seats and lighting them with a “petroleum-based substance" outside a Jewish school at 509 Brooklyn Ave., near East New York Avenue, about 6 p.m. Sunday, according to the NYPD's Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce.
(NYPD)
An 11-year-old boy was arrested soon after the blaze and has been charged as a juvenile for criminal mischief and arson as hate crimes, police said.
While police interviewed him, he gave up the names of the other four boys — an 11-, 12- and two 14-year-olds — who were then taken into custody Thursday, an NYPD spokesman said.
They all face the same charges and none of their names have been released because they are being charged as juveniles.
Police aren't searching for any more suspects in the arson, but said their investigation continues.
