Alabama church fires stoke renewed concerns: Motive for latest arsons unknown
A series of church fires last month in Alabama has renewed a perennial, nationwide concern for protecting congregations and prosecuting arsonists.
Racial hatred did not appear to be a motive in the damage or destruction of ten churches—half of them with black members, half with white congregants.
Within the first two weeks after the first fires February 3, federal authorities had not charged any suspects. One lead suggested that two young men traveled about setting most of the fires.