The FBI along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are investigating the fires in all five black churches across four states, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia.
Paul Bresson, an FBI spokesman said federal authorities are supporting local investigations to help identify the suspects and their motives. Bresson stated, "I'm not sure there is any reason to link them together at this point."
It has been confirmed that three out of the five fires were arson attacks, while the cause of the other two are still being determined by investigators.
Reportedly the College Hills Seventh Day Adventist Church in Tennessee was burnt on Monday, while the God's Power Church of Christ in Georgia was intentionally set on fire on Tuesday. In the middle of the night Wednesday, causing $250,000 in damage, The Briar Creek Baptist Church in North Carolina was burned.
And then on Friday, two churches were both set on fire in Florida, the Glover Grove Missionary Baptist Church in South Carolina and The Greater Miracle Apostolic Holiness Church.
After Dylann Roof attacked a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina ,where Roof shot and killed nine victims, the church fires followed like clockwork shortly. Dylann Roof was allegedly having racist motivations as Dylann Roof was seen in multiple photos posing with the flag.
FBI spokesperson Paul Bresson said: "They're being investigated to determine who is responsible and what motives are behind them."
David Love as an analyst explained, black churches are targeted as a tactic designed to target one of the United States' most marginalized communities.
David Love's statement in an article published by Atlanta Black Star says, "From slavery and the days of Jim Crow through the civil rights movement and beyond, white supremacists have targeted the Black church because of its importance as a pillar of the Black community, the center for leadership and institution building, education, social and political development and organizing to fight oppression."
=====================================================
SOURCES:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/darrensands/fbi-investigating-black-church-fires#.wh6Lzm75
