Man arrested in alleged politically motivated vandalism of State House

A suspect has been arrested after the Statehouse in Boston was vandalized last month. 22 News Statehouse reporter Olivia Ray has information on the suspect's alleged connections and his reported motivations. An arrest has been made following the July vandalism of the Massachusetts Statehouse steps. And police say the suspect is linked to a pro-Palestine group. Last month, the state capitol's steps were covered with white paint and black graffiti appearing to say divest in the middle of the night. FBI and the state police swarmed Beacon Hill for hours following the incident. And the bomb squad was called to investigate potential explosives on Boston Comet. On Thursday, 25-year-old Jeremiah Sawaked from Everett was arrested. And he was charged with multiple vandalism offenses and homemade IED-related offenses on Monday. Sawaked first caught federal officials' attention in May for a video urging followers to target government buildings. And an Instagram account linked to Sawaked's number and anti-Zionist group Direct Action Movement for Palestinian Liberation claimed responsibility for this and other vandalism. The complaint alleges Sawaked vandalized the Statehouse, then fled into Boston Comet, leaving improvised explosive devices behind. It also alleges the suspect's involvement with the vandalism of the George Washington Monument in the public garden and an MIT building. The criminal complaint goes on to say that upon searching the suspect's family car, police found white paint residue and an explosive device similar to the one found on Boston Comet, as well as Direct Action Movement for Palestinian Liberation flyers. Sawaked's mother told reporters that he's being targeted for his views on Palestine and he is innocent. Working for you from the Statehouse in Boston, I'm Olivia Ray, 22 News.