By Ivan Pereira
The man investigators say firebombed the borough’s largest mosque and three other locations in southeast Queens on New Year’s Day was ordered to be held without bail Thursday.
Ray Lengend, 40, was arraigned via teleconference from his room at Bellevue Hospital on 18 criminal counts, including arson as a hate crime.
Prosecutors contend that the unemployed suspect intentionally targeted the Imam Al-Khoei Islamic Center during his alleged two-hour spree because he wanted to “take out as many Muslims and Arabs as possible.”
“It is not hyperbolic for the people to state there was a potential for tremendous carnage,” Queens Assistant District Attorney David Jeffries said.
No one at the four Queens locations and a home in Elmont, L.I. was hurt, however, all five properties suffered damage.
