News / Society

String of arson fires destroy black churches in Southern US

Monday, 29 June 2015 3:06 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 29 June 2015 3:07 PM ]

An arson fire razed the Briar Creek Road Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina last week in a string of suspicious fires that appear to be targeting predominantly black churches in southern states.

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.

An arson fire caused an estimated $250,000 in damage to the Briar Creek Baptist Church.

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.