ATF investigating 5th fire at Jehovah's Witness centers in Washington this year [View all]
Source: ABC News
ATF investigating 5th fire at Jehovah's Witness centers in Washington this year
By MARK OSBORNE Dec 9, 2018, 3:32 AM ET
Federal authorities in Washington state are investigating the latest in a troubling series of arson cases at worship halls for Jehovah's Witnesses.
The latest fire broke out Friday at a Kingdom Hall for Jehovah's Witnesses in Lacey, Washington, completely destroying the building. The Seattle branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ruled the fire an arson on Saturday. The fire broke out at about 3:30 a.m. and no one was in the building at the time, the Thurston County Sheriff's Office said.
The fire was the fifth at a Kingdom Hall in Thurston County this year, according to the ATF. All of the cases remain unsolved.
"Why is this specific religion being targeted? Why are these churches being targeted? What are they doing that is so wrong and oppressive?" Thurston County Sheriff John Snaza told Seattle ABC affiliate KOMO.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee responded to the latest arson on Friday, calling it an "abhorrent act."
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Read more:
https://abcnews.go.com/US/atf-investigating-5th-fire-jehovahs-witness-centers-washington/story?id=59708717
The Kingdom Hall for Jehovah's Witnesses in Lacey, Wash., was completely destroyed by a fire on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018. Officials have ruled it an arson.