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Missouri investigators look into motive for series of fire set at black churches
Source: Associated Press
Missouri investigators look into motive for series of fire set at black churches
Associated Press in St Louis
Monday 19 October 2015 22.12 BST
Investigators in Missouri are trying to determine the cause of mysterious fires this month at predominantly black churches in the St Louis area.
Investigators have no suspects or motives. But the possibility of a hate crime – for religious or racial reasons – “is part of the dynamic” of the investigation, St Louis fire captain Garon Mosby said.
The fires began 8 October and have all happened within a few miles of each other in north St Louis city and county. Six churches have been damaged; five of the churches are predominantly black and one is racially mixed. In each case, the front doors were set on fire. Damage has ranged from virtually nothing at one church to the near destruction of another.
Church leaders said Monday that they are focused on healing, not speculating about blame.
“This is a spiritually sick person,” said the Reverend David Triggs, whose New Life Missionary Baptist Church in St Louis was sent on fire on Saturday. “This is a sin issue. It’s not a race issue.”
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Associated Press in St Louis
Monday 19 October 2015 22.12 BST
Investigators in Missouri are trying to determine the cause of mysterious fires this month at predominantly black churches in the St Louis area.
Investigators have no suspects or motives. But the possibility of a hate crime – for religious or racial reasons – “is part of the dynamic” of the investigation, St Louis fire captain Garon Mosby said.
The fires began 8 October and have all happened within a few miles of each other in north St Louis city and county. Six churches have been damaged; five of the churches are predominantly black and one is racially mixed. In each case, the front doors were set on fire. Damage has ranged from virtually nothing at one church to the near destruction of another.
Church leaders said Monday that they are focused on healing, not speculating about blame.
“This is a spiritually sick person,” said the Reverend David Triggs, whose New Life Missionary Baptist Church in St Louis was sent on fire on Saturday. “This is a sin issue. It’s not a race issue.”
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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/oct/19/missouri-st-louis-black-church-fires-investigation
