A 21-year-old man, the son of a law enforcement officer, faces charges over three fires, believed to have been deliberately lit, at historically black churches in the US state of Louisiana, according to state authorities.
The man, identified as Holden Matthews, of Opelousas, was booked into jail in relation to three counts of simple arson of a religious building, according to a statement issued by the Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards. The fires occurred over a 10 day period ranging from 26th March to 4th April. Investigators have determined all three were intentionally set.
Governor Edwards asked for prayer for the affected church communities.
“Churches are sacred places and no one should ever feel unsafe inside their place of worship or worry that their church home will be tragically destroyed,” he said. “Hatred of any kind should not and will not be tolerated. No one should be judged because of the colour of their skin or religious beliefs.”
Rev Harry Richard, a pastor at the Greater Union Baptist Church – one of the affected congregations, was quoted as saying that he was “relieved” following Matthews’ arrest.
A range of law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and State Fire Marshall, have been involved in the investigation.