Suspected Arson at Swiss Synagogue

GENEVA - Fire caused major damage to one of Geneva's synagogues Thursday and police said they suspect arson.

Dozens of fighters were needed to extinguish the blaze that broke out at 5 a.m. local time in the Hekhal Haness Synagogue. The fire was under control in an hour, but the flames and smoke appeared to have destroyed most of the interior of the building, said Geneva cantonal police spokesman Philippe Cosandey.

"It's not clear whether the fire originated inside or outside the building or whether the fire was set," Cosandey told The Associated Press. But he added that the investigation is proceeding on the presumption that it may have been arson because there appeared to be several sources of the fire.

Nobody was injured in the incident, and no cause for the fire has yet been established, police said. It was too early to give a damage estimate, said Cosandey.