Three Historically Black Churches In Louisiana Burn Down In A Matter Of Days

February 3, 2012, New Orleans, Louisiana, Police tape blocks of crime scene in the 7th Ward at the intersection of Annette and North Villere streets where a man was murdered by gunfire.
(Photo by Julie Dermansky/Corbis via Getty Images)
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In a matter of days, three historic, mostly black churches in one Louisiana parish have gone up in flames — and police have identified “suspicious elements” at the scenes.

According to a New York Times report from late last week, the fires all happened within the past two weeks, but the police have not yet found the common denominator among the burns nor confirmed arson.

Per NBC News, the three churches in St. Landry Parish — St. Mary’s Baptist Church, Greater Union Baptist Church and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church — are all more than 100 years old. A fourth blaze broke out at a church about 200 miles away, but authorities don’t believe it’s related to the first three.

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