Tenth Church Fire Deemed Arson In Ala.
No Motive Known For String Of Church Fires In Rural South
-
Play CBS Video Video Church Fires Investigation Federal investigators looking into a series of church fires in Alabama have told CBS News that they have several hot leads. Jim Acosta has more.
-
Video Alabama Church Fires Arson? Four more Alabama churches have been damaged or destroyed by fire. Officials say the latest fires are related to the ones set last week. They suspect arson, but say race is not a motive.
-
-
A firefighter looks over the remains of Beaverton Freewill Baptist Church in Beaverton, Ala., in rural Lamar County on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006. (AP)
-
Sumter County Sheriff Johnny Hatter, left, and Alabama Governor Bob Riley examine the charred remains of the Galilee Baptist Church Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006 in Panola, Ala. (AP)
-
An agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigates the remains of the Morning Star Baptist church Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006, near Boligee, Ala., after a fire destroyed the structure earlier that morning. (AP)
-
A firefighter from the West Greene Fire Department sprays water on the smoldering remains of the Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church near Boligee, Ala., in Greene County, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006. (AP)
-
Agents with the ATF sift through the debris of the destroyed Rehobeth Baptist Church, Saturday Feb. 4, 2006 in Lawley, Ala. (AP)
-
-
Interactive FBI Crime Statistics Explore the latest information on U.S. crime, from acts of violence to property damage.
-
Interactive Eye on Religion Find out more about the beliefs, practices and history of some of the world's major religions.
-
Interactive FIRE! A look at major fires and their victims, arson facts, and those who fight the flames.
The Saturday afternoon blaze caused severe damage to the Beaverton Freewill Baptist Church in northwest Alabama, near the Mississippi line.
"It's definitely arson," said Ragan Ingram, a spokesman for the state fire marshal's office. It was not immediately clear if the fire was connected to the other blazes that have destroyed or damaged nine churches since Feb. 2.
Saturday's fire was the only one that wasn't set in the pre-dawn hours.
Investigators have said they do not know a motive, but there is no racial pattern. Five of the churches, including the one in Beaverton, had white congregations and five black. All were Baptist, the dominant faith in the region, and mostly in isolated country settings.
Last week, Gov. Bob Riley said the nine earlier church fires appear linked, as investigators checked out witness reports of two men in a sport utility vehicle seen near a number of the fires.
On Sunday, a federal investigator said authorities don't have specific suspects in mind, but they are seeking two white men in their 20s or 30s. Eric Kehn, a spokesman for the federal Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agency, said the assessment was based on witness reports and behavioral profilers.
"They're not youths or teens. It's probably someone in their 20s or 30s. We believe they're pretty much inseparable. They're something like bosom buddies," he said.
The FBI has been looking into whether the arsons were civil rights violations under laws covering attacks on religious property.
Evidence from one of the earlier fires indicates the perpetrators may have been briefly trapped inside the building and may have been hurt, said Jim Cavanaugh, ATF regional director.
©MMVI, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
More From U.S.
Mike Huckabee on GOP "rock stars," 2012, health care reform and more.
