A Coptic church in Surrey has been burned to the ground – the latest religious building to be set alight across the West..Surrey RCMP said they’re currently on the scene of the blaze that destroyed the St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, in Whalley..“On July 19, at 3:17 a.m., Surrey RCMP was informed by the Surrey Fire Service of a fire at the St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in the 13900-block of 108 Street. Thankfully, no one was injured in the fire, however, the church has been destroyed,” said Sgt. Elenore Sturko..“At this time, Surrey RCMP is working with the Surrey Fire Service to investigate the cause of the fire. Investigators must wait for the debris to cool before further work can be completed; however, this fire is being treated as suspicious.”.A few days earlier, on July 14, the same church was the target of an attempted arson, which was reported to police after damage was discovered on the door of the church..Surveillance video confirmed that at approximately 2:33 a.m. on July 14, a female suspect lit items on fire at the door of the church and immediately left the area.. Screen-Shot-2021-07-19-at-11.54.43-AMSuspect in first arson attempt at George Coptic Orthodox Church Courtesy CBC .The suspect is described as a Caucasian woman, 5 ft. 7-ins., with a heavy-set build, and dark hair. The woman was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, a black tank top, black tights with a flower print, and black flip-flops..“It is important to note that although both of these incidents are suspicious, there is currently no evidence linking these two separate investigations,” said Sturko..About three dozen churches, mainly Catholic, have been hit by arsonists and vandals since the discovery of hundreds of graves at the site of former residential schools across the West..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
A Coptic church in Surrey has been burned to the ground – the latest religious building to be set alight across the West..Surrey RCMP said they’re currently on the scene of the blaze that destroyed the St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, in Whalley..“On July 19, at 3:17 a.m., Surrey RCMP was informed by the Surrey Fire Service of a fire at the St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in the 13900-block of 108 Street. Thankfully, no one was injured in the fire, however, the church has been destroyed,” said Sgt. Elenore Sturko..“At this time, Surrey RCMP is working with the Surrey Fire Service to investigate the cause of the fire. Investigators must wait for the debris to cool before further work can be completed; however, this fire is being treated as suspicious.”.A few days earlier, on July 14, the same church was the target of an attempted arson, which was reported to police after damage was discovered on the door of the church..Surveillance video confirmed that at approximately 2:33 a.m. on July 14, a female suspect lit items on fire at the door of the church and immediately left the area.. Screen-Shot-2021-07-19-at-11.54.43-AMSuspect in first arson attempt at George Coptic Orthodox Church Courtesy CBC .The suspect is described as a Caucasian woman, 5 ft. 7-ins., with a heavy-set build, and dark hair. The woman was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, a black tank top, black tights with a flower print, and black flip-flops..“It is important to note that although both of these incidents are suspicious, there is currently no evidence linking these two separate investigations,” said Sturko..About three dozen churches, mainly Catholic, have been hit by arsonists and vandals since the discovery of hundreds of graves at the site of former residential schools across the West..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694