String of arson fires destroy black churches in Southern US
Suspicious fires have damaged or destroyed at least six predominantly black churches in four Southern states since the June 17 church massacre in Charleston, South Carolina, authorities said.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are cooperating with local law enforcement to investigate the fires.
At least three of the incidents have been determined to be arson attacks.
The first arson fire targeted the College Hills Seventh Day Adventist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, last Monday. The arsonist set multiple fires on the black church’s property.
A fire that burned the sanctuary of God’s Power Church of Christ in Macon, Georgia, on Tuesday was also blamed on arson.
On Wednesday, a fire caused an estimated $250,000 in damage to the Briar Creek Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. The incident was determined to be an arson attack.
The Fruitland Presbyterian Church in Gibson County, Tennessee, was also destroyed on Wednesday. Lightning is suspected to have caused the fire.
A tree that fell on electrical lines on Friday is suspected in a fire that razed the Greater Miracle Apostolic Holiness Church in Tallahassee, Florida, causing an estimated $700,000 in damage.
Also on Friday, hours before President Barack Obama delivered a moving eulogy for South Carolina state senator Clementa Pinckney, who was gunned down along eight other black worshipers in Emanuel AME Church, another black church burned to the ground.
The exact cause of the fire at the Glover Grover Baptist Church in Warrenville, South Carolina, is still unknown.
HRJ/HRJ
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