A string of church arsons in East Texas has congregations mobilizing to guard their houses of worship, while investigators dig through charred buildings for evidence. Authorities are examining 10 fires in the area this year, seven pf which have been ruled arsons, according to Tom Crowley, a spokesman from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
– A string of church fires in East Texas has stumped authorities and frightened congregations, with seven so far this year having been set by arsonists and another three thought to be their handiwork. The damage runs into the millions of dollars and some churches have begun organizing night watches, the Wall Street Journal reports. The fires have mostly been in small towns, but there doesn't seem to be any pattern, investigators say. Churches have been targeted regardless of religion or race of the congregation. Some people suspect Muslims, liberals, or Satan himself are behind the fires, but investigators warn against jumping to conclusions. "It doesn't have to be a hate crime," an ATF spokesman tells the Dallas Morning News.