Fires strike 2 more east Texas churches

Associated Press ^ | Feb. 8, 2010

[Free ThinkerNY]

DALLAS (AP) - A sheriff's dispatcher says fires have struck two more rural east Texas churches, just hours after investigators announced that a blaze last week marked the eighth arson against a house of worship in the state this year.

A Smith County sheriff's dispatcher says fire struck a Baptist church near Tyler Monday night. Another hit a church about 3 miles away.

The fires come the same day the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced a blaze that happened last week was the seventh east Texas church fire of 2010 to be deliberately set.

[Cindy]

Thanks for posting this thread FreeThinkerNY.

[montag813]

Imagine if these were mosques.

[DoughtyOne]

A sheriff's dispatcher says fires have struck two more rural east Texas churches, just hours after investigators announced that a blaze last week marked the eighth arson against a house of worship in the state this year.

Imagine the uproar if it was eight abortion clinics.

[DoughtyOne]

I’ll bet they don’t use the “T” word in conjunction with this.

[Cindy]

Previously...

http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2010/02/08/conroe_courier/news/0209_state_briefs.txt

“Seventh 2010 east Texas church fire ruled arson”

Updated: 02.08.10

SNIPPET: “DALLAS — Investigators have concluded that a seventh east Texas church fire this was caused by arson.

Tom Crowley’s a spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Dallas. He said Monday that a deliberate fire Thursday destroyed the Russell Memorial United Methodist Church sanctuary in Wills Point, 45 miles east of Dallas.

He’d previously said arson caused six other east Texas church fires this year alone: two in Tyler, one in nearby Lindale and three in the Athens area. In central Texas, ATF agents from Houston concluded arson caused a fire last month that destroyed the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church in Temple.”

[Free ThinkerNY]

You’re welcome, Cindy. This is an important story.

[Cindy]

Yes it is.

[kingpins10]

The mean old nasty devil sure doesn’t like Baptist churches does he?

[Cindy]

Previously...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2435831/posts

#

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2435831/posts?page=18#18

http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11866366

“Church fire hotline set up, investigation continues”

Posted: Jan 22, 2010 12:34 PM
Updated: Jan 22, 2010 4:37 PM
Video Gallery

TYLER, TX (KLTV) -
SNIPPET: “An official tip line had been established that will be manned 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The Church Arson Hotline numbers are: 903-939-6169 or 903-939-6172

The ATF is offering a $10,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspected arsonist.”

[umbagi]

Thanks for this, Free Thinker — but why is the BATF involved in Texas arson cases? Where’s the federal jurisdiction?

[Cindy]

Re ATF:

Quote:

http://www.atf.gov/about/mission/

ATF HomeAbout ATFMission / Vision / Values
ATF’s Mission

We are ATF.

A unique law enforcement agency in the United States Department of Justice that protects our communities from violent criminals, criminal organizations, the illegal use and trafficking of firearms, the illegal use and storage of explosives, acts of arson and bombings, acts of terrorism, and the illegal diversion of alcohol and tobacco products. We partner with communities, industries, law enforcement, and public safety agencies to safeguard the public we serve through information sharing, training, research, and use of technology.

ATF’s Vision
We Are ATF — A dedicated team securing America’s future by accomplishing a critical mission today.

We Protect America.

We Protect Your Community.

ATF’s Values
We value our people and those we serve.

We value professionalism, integrity, diversity, commitment, innovation, and excellence.

We value partnerships that promote the safety of our communities.

[iowamark]

First Methodist Church in Burlington, Iowa, burned by a Satanist in 2007.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping.

[umbagi]

A unique law enforcement agency in the United States Department of Justice that protects our communities from violent criminals, criminal organizations, the illegal use and trafficking of firearms, the illegal use and storage of explosives, acts of arson and bombings, acts of terrorism, and the illegal diversion of alcohol and tobacco products.

In other words, they claim general jurisdiction over just about everything.

Reaffirms the grounds for my belief that "Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms" should be a convenience store, not a federal agency.

[Cindy]

Quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2447776/posts

ATF blames Texas church fires on serial arsonist
Associated Press ^ | Feb. 9, 2010 | SCHUYLER DIXON
Posted on February 9, 2010 1:20:48 PM PST by Free ThinkerNY

TYLER, Texas (AP) - Recent fires that destroyed or damaged several churches in eastern Texas were likely set by an individual or a group of people, federal authorities said Tuesday.

Fires that broke out at two churches near Tyler on Monday have not yet been ruled arson, but authorities are investigating them as such. They were reported within an hour of one another and there were signs that at least one of the churches had been broken into.

Since Jan. 1, eight churches—seven in eastern Texas and one in the central part of the state—have been set ablaze deliberately, authorities have said.

(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...