Mississippi church arson: No sign of accelerant found

GREENVILLE, Miss. – A fire chief says the burning of an African-American church in Mississippi is still considered arson, but the state Crime Lab determined that no accelerant was found on items it tested from the church.

Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in Greenville burned Nov. 1, and “Vote Trump” was spray painted on the side of the building.

Greenville Fire Chief Ruben Brown tells the Delta Democrat-Times (http://bit.ly/2eXxiP6 ) that the fire could have been set by paper, clothing or direct flame contact. Brown did not return calls to The Associated Press.

Brown says an investigation continues. No arrests have been made.

Greenville is a Mississippi River port city of about 32,100 people, and about 78 per cent of its residents are African-American.

The FBI opened a civil-rights investigation into the fire.

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Information from: Delta Democrat-Times, http://www.ddtonline.com