Homeless man accused of lighting fire to Brooklyn synagogue mentally unfit for trial: federal judge

A homeless man accused of setting fire to a Brooklyn synagogue and wrecking a church crucifix last year is mentally unfit to stand trial, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

Ali Alaheri, 30, will spend 90 days in a psychiatric treatment facility before he’s evaluated again for competency, Brooklyn Federal Judge Rachel Kovner ruled.

If he doesn’t take his medicine, the court will review whether he needs “involuntary treatment,” the judge decided.

Alaheri busted a statue of Jesus affixed to a wooden crucifix outside St. Athanasius Catholic Church in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, then burned an American flag and broke a fence in an early-morning tirade on May 14, 2021, authorities said.

Five days later, Alaheri piled garbage bags on the side of a Borough Park synagogue and yeshiva on 36th St. and set them ablaze, according to federal prosecutors. A day after that, he repeatedly punched a man wearing traditional Jewish garb outside an auto body shop near the synagogue, the feds allege.

Investigators believe Alaheri was sleeping in a car parked near the synagogue. He was indicted in Brooklyn Federal Court on a single count of arson last year.