Third arson attack in a month
The Multicultural Christian Church of Amsterdam Zuidoost was hit by an explosion, the third attack in a month. At around 1.50am, a person smashed a window of the church and threw powerful fireworks inside, causing an explosion that severely damaged the ceiling and other parts of the building.
CCTV footage clearly shows the attacker throwing fireworks inside the building. The church was already under police surveillance following two arson attacks at the beginning of October, which necessitated security measures.
Experts from the Department of Explosive Ordnance confirmed the use of very powerful fireworks as the main cause of the damage. The authorities are trying to understand whether this episode is linked to previous arson attacks, all of which appear to have targeted the same church.
The first attack on the church building took place on the night of 12 October. A short circuit could not have been the cause, said the Pastor, Moses Alagbe. The fire brigade saw that a window was broken. Probably someone threw something flammable in. After a week of repairs, on 20 October, another window was broken and a bottle of petrol was found on the floor.
The local community has been shaken by these repeated acts of violence, which appear to be systematically targeting the MCTC (Multicultural Christian Church). The authorities have increased the police presence in the area and are keeping all leads open, including the possibility of a discriminatory motive, given the multicultural nature of the community.
Picture: Het Parrol