Kochi synagogue fire: What happened, probe into extremist links and history of over 800-year-old structure

Kadavumbhagam Synagogue, a little-known Jewish place of worship in Kochi, Keralam, is now in the news after reports of an arson attack outside the over 800-year-old structure. A 32-year-old man, Ebin Paul, was arrested for allegedly setting fire to the boards kept outside the gate of the historic synagogue in Ernakulam market on Monday (October 12, 2026).

Here’s a look at what happened, latest updates on the case and the history of Kadavumbhagam Synagogue, whose original structure is said to date back to the 12th century.

What happened at Kochi synagogue

A fire was set at Blossom Nursery, located in front of Kadavumbhagam synagogue, around 2.40 a.m. on October 12. The police said the accused arrived in a blue car, poured petrol on the premises, and set it ablaze. The 32-year-old man allegedly recorded the incident on his mobile phone before fleeing. The Ernakulam Central police arrested Ebin Paul on Tuesday (October 13) for alleged involvement in the case.

What is the latest update in synagogue arson case

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has also been set up to probe the suspected extremist links of the accused, a resident of Puthen Cruz in the Ernakulam district.

A preliminary examination of the accused’s mobile phone reportedly uncovered communications with individuals and online groups suspected of having foreign links. The suspect’s communications allegedly contained references to Jewish institutions and other potential targets, according to the police. The probe officers are also examining indications that payments may have been made through cryptocurrency. Police claimed the accused admitted to his role in a similar arson incident that occurred earlier in Muvattupuzha in the district.

Additionally, the Puthencruz Police also seized a cache of suspected narcotic substances from his rented house in Puthencruz.

Another fire incident under scrutiny

Amid the probe into synagogue arson, another recent fire incident at iconic Koder House in Fort Kochi is also under scrutiny. The Kochi City police have decided to intensify the investigation into the fire that partially gutted Koder House on September 29, 2026, causing extensive damage to the historic property.

Built as a Portuguese mansion, the building was bought and renovated by Samuel S. Koder, a member of the Jewish community in Kochi. But there is currently no information directly linking the two incidents, nor have the Fort Kochi police found any evidence of external involvement in the Koder House fire, The Hindu has reported.

What is the history of Kadavumbhagam Synagogue

Kadavumbhagam Synagogue is located inside the Ernakulam Market and is believed to be among the oldest in the Commonwealth. But it is not as well-known as the synagogue located in the famed Jew Town, Mattancherry, Ernakulam.

Women leave after shopping at an aquarium fish and plant store, behind which sits the 12th-century Kadavumbhagam Synagogue (seen in the background) in Ernakulam.

The Ernakulam district has at least six synagogues, standing as a testimony to the region’s cosmopolitan heritage. The bustling Market Road in Ernakulam once had a strong community of Malabari Jews. But much of the Jewish community in Kochi immigrated to Israel, leaving behind their homes, synagogues and cemeteries.

Built in the 1200s, Kadavumbhagam Synagogue had fallen into disuse and dilapidation in the last century. The over 800-year-old structure was rebuilt in the 17th century and was renovated in 2018.

Elias Josephai, a Malabari Jew, at the 12th-century Kadavumbagam Synagogue in Ernakulam.

Elias Josephai, who preferred to stay back in Kochi rather than migrate to Israel, is the managing trustee of the synagogue. In 2025, he spoke to The Hindu about how the Jewish congregation at the synagogue dwindled in the 1960s, after most community members in Kochi emigrated to Israel. The synagogue was closed for prayers in 1972, and the first prayer in the renovated synagogue was held only in the last decade.