An updated version of this story was posted at 7:05 p.m. »

HACKENSACK — A second suspect has been apprehended in connection to the firebombings of two Bergen County synagogues and one Jewish community center in January, authorities said Friday.

Aakash Dalal, 19, of Lodi was the apparent mastermind behind a string of attacks, which started with anti-Semitic vandalism in December and took a violent turn over the course of weeks, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli alleged at an afternoon press conference.

Molinelli released instant message transcripts, allegedly between Dalal and his co-conspirator, Anthony M. Graziano, the Lodi man arrested several weeks ago in connection to the crimes. The two men have been friends since middle school.

Molinelli said Dalal was a person of interest back in January, after a comment on a news story about the attacks mentioned his name. Dalal was not present at the temple firebombings, but was instrumental in providing Graziano the resources to carry out the attack, police said.

The two men each face as much as 80 years in prison.