Police responded to arson Tuesday morning at a predominantly black St. Louis church that also vandalized with racist graffiti directed at African-Americans. Investigation into the arson is being led by the St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson Unit, according to the Associated Press. Last year, the FBI investigated church arsons that sprung up shortly after the racially motivated Charleston church shooting in which nine people from a predominantly black church were killed.
Firefighters arrived on the scene to see the church ablaze after a building alarm at the Greater St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church went off at around 2 a.m. the AP reported.
On Wednesday, police said a back door had been forced open and racist graffiti was found on the building's exterior. A photo posted by KMOX reveals the graffiti written on a door said, "Children of Israel negroes are the Isralites [sic] wake [up]."
Greater St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church pastor Titus D. Irving said he's "heartbroken," according to the AP. "I know the Lord will see us through this, but it tears your heart apart."
Despite the graffiti, Irving said he doesn't think the arson was racially motivated. "I just believe that it's hatred against the church at large," he said.
KMOXreported Irving believes the fire was started by someone throwing a tire covered in gasoline through a church window. The APreported the fire caused an estimated $200,000 in interior damage.
Chief Fire Investigator Fire Captain Adam Owens didn't immediately respond to Complex's request for comment.
