MIAMI — Authorities have arrested the suspect who was caught on camera vandalizing a menorah outside of the Miami-Dade Tax Collector’s Office in downtown Miami.

The person is seen walking up to the sacred symbol, throwing it to the ground and ripping the bulbs from their sockets, then destroying the fencing around it before taking off.

Police have yet to publicly identify the suspect.

The incident occurred just days after the tax collector’s office launched an annual menorah-lighting tradition for Hanukkah this year.

“This despicable act of vandalism against our menorah is an attack on the values of faith, perseverance, and unity that Hanukkah represents and that we celebrated together just days ago,” Miami-Dade Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez said in a statement. “We unequivocally stand with the Jewish community in Miami-Dade County and across the nation. Hate has no home here. Light will always prevail over darkness, and we will not be intimidated.

“The only way to fight darkness is with light, and I will do that every single day of my life.”

Fernandez said he planned to re-light the menorah immediately, and it has since been repaired and placed back in its original working location.

‘Despicable act’: Suspect arrested in menorah desecration outside Miami-Dade official’s office

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David Dwork