Seven churches are targeted in a suspicious attack by a fire that happened overnight in New Zealand.
Four churches in the town of Masterton, north of the capital city of Wellington, suffered “moderate to significant” damage, while found to suggest that three more buildings had been targeted but did not fire.
The crews from all over the Wairarapa region responded to fires at about 04:30 on Saturday (15:30 GMT on Friday).
“The fires are treated as suspicious and are sent to the police,” said a spokesman for the fire and an ambulance. No arrests were carried out.
The Anglican Church of Epiphany, the Catholic Church of St. Patrick, the Baptist Church of Masterton and the Equippers Church Masterston were lit, the authorities said.
Local media reports descriptions of broken windows, burnt chairs and burned upholstery. All fires were extinguished and no one was injured.
Masterton Mayor Gary Caffell said the apparent attacks shocked the community, adding that they left Vedra.
He said to the local media, “You just don’t expect something to happen, especially in a place like Masterton.”
Local MP Mike Buttick expressed his “deep sadness” and described the first answers as “heroes” in a statement.
The funeral home in the same area containing the chapel was also lit around 10:00, but no one was in the building.
The police are left at the scene and asks for witnesses to report.
Officers will also run patrols in Masterton to convince residents during Saturday, and in nearby cities in Featherston and Carterton.
The video circulating on social media shows a man who requires responsibility for attacks, expressing anti-religious and anti-monarchist feelings.
Police, fire and emergency new Zealand approached further comments.
Religious buildings in New Zealand have suffered a number of fire attacks in recent years.
Last year, the church property in Auckland was undergoing two fire attacks the same night. The mosque was also lit in the same area in November.
In 2019, 51 people were killed on two mass shootings at the Christchurch mosques. The man responsible Brenton Tarrant said he also planned burn mosqueswanting to “apply as many deaths as possible.”
