–asks that ATF use any available resources for a swift conclusion–
Jefferson City, Mo. – Attorney General Chris Koster today sent a letter to United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch to thank the Department of Justice for its involvement in the investigation of church fires in the St. Louis area, and to ask that all available resources through the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) be used to assist in tracking down the person or persons responsible. There have now been seven fires set at area churches, most of them with predominantly African-American members.
The churches that have been victims of the fires in St. Louis City and North St. Louis County since October 8 are Shrine of St. Joseph church, Bethel Nondenominational Church, New Northside Missionary Baptist Church, St. Augustine Catholic Church, New Testament Church of Christ, New Life Missionary Baptist Church and Ebenezer Lutheran Church.
Earlier today, Koster received a briefing from Chief Sam Dotson of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department on the current state of the investigation. Koster previously offered assistance from the Attorney General’s Office if needed.
“These attacks on St. Louis’s houses of worship must come to an end,” Koster said. “I have written personally to Attorney General Lynch asking the Justice Department to aid state and local investigators to bring the perpetrators to justice.”
Koster’s letter to Attorney General Lynch can be found here.
