Authorities in Plano, Texas, are looking into what appears to be an arson assault at the Community Unitarian Universalist Church, which happened only a few weeks after the congregation was criticized in a video uploaded by an anti-LGBTQ Christian YouTuber.
Early Sunday, a passerby noticed flames engulfing the front door of the church and promptly alerted Plano Fire-Rescue.
Arson Attack Investigated at Plano Church Targeted by Anti-LGBTQ YouTuber
The fire was swiftly extinguished, thankfully resulting in no injuries.
Both the fire department and the city’s police department are leading separate investigations into the incident, treating it as a deliberate act of arson.
In a statement released on the church’s Facebook page, the incident was described as a ‘firebomb attack,’ indicating that an incendiary device containing a chemical accelerant had been thrown or placed at the main church building’s entrance.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, the church had been previously targeted by a hate group during and after a Worship Service on June 25.
The group documented their actions inside the church and shared the video on various social media platforms.
The church’s statement also referred to a recent visit from right-wing content creator Bo Alford, known as “bodittle” on social media.
Alford, along with fellow YouTuber Cassady Campbell and another man, filmed themselves visiting the Plano church.
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YouTube Video Sparks Controversy and Arson Probe
During the visit, they pretended to be LGBTQ and questioned the congregation about their beliefs, with the apparent goal of testing the church’s theology and exposing false teachers.
The video, titled “We acted LGBT at LGBT Church,” garnered over 200,000 views and concluded with the men standing by the church sign, asking viewers to pray for these people, while denigrating the church as pagan and satanic.
In response to the accusations and the connection to the fire, Alford defended his channel’s message of spreading Jesus’s love and claimed that the church members had nothing but positive things to say about their conversation, even ending it with a hug.
However, Alford’s social media presence suggests a history of pranks targeting politically and socially liberal Americans, with a particular focus on members of the LGBTQ community.
As the investigation continues, the Plano community remains on alert, grappling with the aftermath of the attack and the potential motives behind the incident.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of combating hate and intolerance and fostering a culture of understanding and acceptance.
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