2 charged with setting fires at Maryland religious facility

WHEATON, Md. (AP) - Two suspects were charged Sunday with intentionally setting fires at a Maryland religious facility, police said.

Police arrested Andrew Costas, 28, and Rebecca Matathias, 25, on charges of defacing religious property, arson and malicious destruction of property, among other counts, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service said in a statement.

Fire crews in Wheaton responded to an alarm at a faith building Wednesday and found multiple small fires burning outside, the agency said. Investigators found ignitable liquids were used to start the fires and determined the causes were likely arson, WTOP-TV reported, citing police.

Costas was previously arrested Friday after he was accused of spray painting swastikas and “derogatory epithets” on a Rockville synagogue in a separate incident in late March, Montgomery County police said in a statement.

He was charged with malicious destruction of property, defacing religious property and “damaging property of a group because of the group’s religious beliefs” in that case, police said.

It was unclear whether Costas and Matathias had attorneys who could comment for them.