WEYMOUTH, MASS. (WHDH) - Firefighters in Weymouth said they believe a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a local church overnight now, investigators have launched an arson investigation.
Officers were dispatched to the Sacred Heart Church located at 72 Washington St. around 9:10 a.m. Monday, according to police.
The incendiary device extinguished on its own but not before charring the door and door jam.
“It appears there were two fires set against the doors of the church, CJ Doyle Executive Director, Catholic Action League of Massachusetts said. “From what we’ve been told, there was damage to the doors and melting in the interior.”
No one was injured.
“This is clearly an appalling act of arson,” Doyle said “Something really depraved.”
Doyle said there have been six incidents of arson and vandalism, against catholic churches in Massachusetts this year.
The burning of a Virgin Mary statue at Saint Peter’s in Dorchester just another example.
Doyle now hopes whoever did this is held responsible.
“This is very disturbing,” he said. “These are hate crimes targeting a house of worship. any type of vandalism or destruction is a hate crime in Massachusetts going back to 1990. These ought to be prosecuted as such.”
Anyone with information about this fire is asked to call the Arson Hotline at 1-800-682-9229. All calls are confidential.
The Hotline is part of the Arson Watch Reward Program that provides rewards of up to $5,000 for information that helps to solve the case.
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