The Seattle, Washington Police Department this week released surveillance photos of a man they say threw lit incendiary devices at a church building during Thursday evening service.
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The FBI and the police department are jointly investigating the attack. No further information has been released.
Police in West Jordan, Utah have arrested two people believed to be responsible for vandalism at 11 church properties. Shania Kaitlynn Page Carson, 21, and Colby Dean Robertson, 19, are also suspected of damaging cars in the parking lots of church meetings. In all, both are charged with 56 counts of criminal mischief.
The arrest came after a police officer pulled over a car in which Carlson and Robertson were found with rocks, bats and a sledgehammer. Police say these items and other evidence allowed police to file charges.
A motive for vandalism has not been announced by authorities. The Desert News reports the targets were chosen because they appeared vulnerable.
Police in Santa Barbara California believe anti-Columbus day sentiment is motive behind vandalism at a church established in 1786. Someone spray painted “genocide”, smashed a window, and damaged other pieces of church property of the Old Mission Santa Barbara. The Los Angeles Times reports they caused an estimated $25,000 in damage. KYET television published a photo of the damage.
File news reports from the area say the same church was vandalized last year. Cameras were installed following that attack. Video from those cameras of this year’s attack is being reviewed by detectives.
The 231-year-old building is home to a community of Franciscan Friars
U.S. President Donald Trump this month signed a bill into law increasing punishments for criminals who target churches or religiously affiliated organizations. The bill was introduced in response to a growing number of vandalism, bomb threats and other attacks on religious freedom in the U.S.
Existing U.S. law protects abortion clinics and other facilities frequently target by vandals. The new law expands similar protections for churches. According to a news release from the White House, The Protecting Religiously Affiliated Institutions Act of 2018 criminalizes the intentional obstruction of any person’s free exercise of religious beliefs by threat of force against religious real property. It increases the penalty to three years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine for threats that lead to damage. Those offenses were misdemeanors with a maximum one year in jail before the bill was signed.
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