ST. LOUIS, Oct. 30 (UPI) — Authorities have arrested a suspect they believe is responsible for setting seven fires around the St. Louis area this month.
Police did not immediately identify the suspect but said he is a 35-year-old black male. More information was expected at a Friday afternoon news conference.
Officials have said they believe the fires were set to send a message, Fox 2 St. Louis reported Friday.
The first fire was set Oct. 8 and the last on Oct. 22 in St. Louis and Jennings, Mo., police say.
The fires, some of which did only minimal damage, drew attention of local and federal investigators. The locations spanned several denominations, though at predominately black churches, raising questions of whether they were hate crimes.
“We pray for the person who has done this. It seems to be mentally off balance behavior,” The Rev. Robert Gettinger said.
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