A Christian church in Melbourne, Florida has been set ablaze in an act of arson and graffiti saying “Allahu Akbar” was left painted on the walls of an out door shed, reports say.
The fire was set in an attempt to burn down the New Shiloh Christian Church in the central Florida community of Melbourne.
#Melbourne vandal sets fire and leaves graffiti behind at New Shiloh Christian Center Monday. #WFTV #Brevard pic.twitter.com/YrLIZgdZss
— Melonie Holt (@MHoltWFTV) February 17, 2015
Melbourne police said officers and firefighters discovered the blaze after a fire alarm sounded. Arson was the expected cause, police said.
Fire sprinklers helped contain the flames to a storage unit connected to the 125,000-square-foot building.
The words “Allahu Akbar” were spray-painted on the storage unit. “Allahu Akbar” is an Arabic phrase typically translated as “God is great” and is a common expression used in various contexts.
A swastika was also scrawled on church property.
“To find something like that in 2015 is unbelievable. It’s just disheartening,” said New Shiloh Christian Church Bishop Jacquelyn Gordon.
No news on exactly who is responsible for the crime has come out.