Police arrest suspect in Seattle church arson

Oct. 23, 2018 Update: Seattle police said officers arrested a suspect on Tuesday in the Beacon Hill church arson from last week.

Police said the suspect, a man in his 30s, was arrested in South Seattle at 6:30 p.m.

Detectives are interviewing the suspect and will book him into the King County Jail on suspicion of arson.

Oct. 22, 2018 Update: Detectives are continuing their search for the suspect.

On Monday, Seattle police released surveillance images of the suspect and are asking for the public's help in identifying the man.

Anyone with information or could help identify the man is asked to call the Seattle Police Department's Arson/Bomb Squad Unit at 206-684-8980.

Previous Coverage:

Several Molotov cocktail devices were thrown at a Seattle church starting a small fire outside.

Crews responded after 8 p.m. on Oct. 18 to a report of a fire at the Iglesia ni Cristo church in the 7100 block of 42nd Avenue South in the Rainier Valley.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, the fire had been extinguished. The fire happened outside of the structure and did not spread inside.

Witnesses told investigators a person had thrown lit bottles of an unknown liquid at the building. Police said the bottles caused minor damage to the outside of the church.

A service was in session during the time of the fire, and about 50 people were inside. No injuries were reported.

Police said they are investigating the fire as arson and are working with witnesses to develop a suspect description.

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