Plano church 'firebombed' before Sunday services
PLANO, Texas - Plano arson investigators are trying to determine who intentionally started a fire at a church in the overnight hours over the weekend.
The church was empty at the time, and the damage was limited.
Church leaders posted online that this isn't the first time there's been an incident at the church where the police got involved.
Plano-Fire Rescue says Sunday around 12:15 a.m. someone saw flames coming from the Community Unitarian Universalist Church off East Parker Road in Plano.
When firefighters got there, they found fire at the front door and on the ground outside the door.
Crews quickly extinguished the fire, and no one was injured.
Church leaders posted to Facebook, calling the incident a ‘firebomb attack.’
The post reads, "An incendiary device with a chemical accelerant was thrown or placed at the front doors of the main church building."
Plano Fire-Rescue confirms the fire was set intentionally, but they did not share what started the fire.
Church leaders added in the post that the church has been working with police since June 25 after an incident happened with a hate group intruding on worship services.
Plano-Fire Rescue did not share any information on a potential suspect or suspects, only that this is a criminal investigation.
FOX 4 reached out to the Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry. They declined our request for an interview but shared a statement asking for "support and prayers" for the church in light of "such hate and violence."
Despite damage to the front of the church building, Sunday morning worship services went on as normal while Plano police provided extra security.
Plano-Fire Rescue said the fire marshal is looking at surveillance footage from nearby street and building cameras.
In the church’s post, it says the damage is limited to the front door, materials directly outside the front doors and the entrance foyer.
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