(Eagle News) – Arson detectives are now questioning the man arrested by Seattle police on Tuesday, October 23, suspected to have thrown several Molotov cocktail devices at the house of worship of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) in Seattle’s Rainier Valley district last Thursday, October. 18.
In a statement, the police said the suspect was in his 30s. He was arrested “Tuesday evening around 6:30 in South Seattle.”
“Arson detectives are currently interviewing the suspect and will book him into King County Jail for investigation of Arson,” the update from the Seattle police said.
Bail was set at around $500,000.
A report by the Seattle Times said that the judge found probable cause to hold the suspect on investigation for first-degree arson and attempted first-degree assault, citing King’s county prosecutors.
According to the statement of probable case obtained by Seattle Times, the man was seen on video surveillance footage removing items from his bag, and setting them on the ground just before 8 p.m., Thursday, October 18.
The man then lighted the Molotov cocktails and threw them one by one at the church.
The suspect even accidentally lit his own jacket when he picked up the third Molotov cocktail device. He then took off his jacket before hurling the Molotov cocktails at the church.
He also threw Molotov cocktails at a parking attendant who rushed over to see what he was doing.
As seen on the surveillance video, the man, after this, got his jacket and bag and walked north. But he still managed to turn and throw one last Molotov cocktail device at the INC church that Thursday night.
Around 250 people were inside the church attending a worship service when all these happened.
No one was injured. Only a part of the church building’s exterior had minor damages.
On Monday, October 22, the Seattle police released photos of the suspect and asked the public for help in identifying him.
The photos were taken from surveillance videos of the area where the arson attempt happened.
The arrest happened the following day, Tuesday, October 23.
-Church thanks police officers and community members in Seattle-
The Church had received various messages of sympathy and support from the local community after Thursday’s incident.
INC District Minister for the Pacific Northwest region, Barrington Thompson, thanked the community members for these expressions of support, and also thanked the police for their immediate aid.
“We thank the officers who immediately responded to the protection and aid of our brethren in the locale of Seattle,” he said.
“We (also) take this opportunity to thank the communities and the multitude who have expressed their sympathies and support. We may believe in different things but we all believe that our freedom to worship and our freedom of religion make the United States of America a great nation,” he said.
-Spreading the love: INC Aid for Humanity set in Seattle on Oct. 27-
Thompson said that the congregation will continue with their peaceful worship services “no matter what.”
“In these times, all the more we need to keep faith, to remain hopeful and to spread love as true Christians,” he said.
Thompson said that although the incident saddened church members, they would keep on doing good work in the community.
“No matter what we face, the Church will continue serving the Seattle community. We will keep on spreading the good news of salvation, and work to care for, and aid, our fellow human beings,” he said.
“As scheduled, and undeterred, the Church Of Christ will resume with its Aid For Humanity event on Saturday, October 27 to be held at the same Rainier Valley property. The event is part of a worldwide effort to strengthen the bond between the congregations of the Church Of Christ and the communities in which they serve,” said the INC release.
Earlier this year the Seattle congregations have also joined together to hold a Free Market Expo wherein community members received free goods and services.
They also held various INC Giving projects throughout the summer such as a Career Fair, a Food Drive, a Clean Up Drive and a Police Appreciation event. (Eagle News Service)