July 9, 1999
Web posted at: 9:56 PM EDT (0156 GMT)

SACRAMENTO, California (CNN) -- Two individuals have been arrested in California in what authorities said Friday has resulted in a "major break" in the investigation of three June arson attacks on synagogues in the Sacramento area.

The arrests were made Wednesday in Shasta County on unrelated charges, but subsequent searches have "yielded evidence of potential involvement in or knowledge of" the arson attacks, FBI special agent James Maddock said at an afternoon news conference.

"These individuals had compiled a list of names in a notebook. The named individuals were primarily associated with the three burned synagogues," Maddock said.

He said the FBI has notified the people on the list.

"We don't know the purpose for collecting these names, but obviously we are concerned for their safety and the public safety as well," he said.

"This has caused enough of a public safety concern that we believe widespread notification to individuals and groups who are traditional targets of hate crimes is appropriate," he said.

When the two individuals were arrested, Maddock said, they "had in their possession, or access to, substantial armament or ammunition."

However, he emphasized there was no evidence "of any specific plan or violent action against any individual or group."

The names of those arrested have not been released and authorities did not elaborate on why they were arrested, but Maddock said "the outstanding work by the local officers may well have saved lives."