Melbourne, FLORIDA — A Church in Florida was set on fire and vandalized with graffiti including the phrase, “Allahu Akbar” and images of swastikas. But Officials there are not labeling the incident a hate crime.
The crime occurred Monday at the New Shiloh Christian Church in Melbourne on Sarno Rd. About 1,500 members attend the church.
Police told WKMG they are hesitant to label the case as a hate crime because they don’t want to alarm the public. They said they will determine if the graffiti was done at the same time as the vandalism and arson to determine if it is, in fact, a hate crime.
At this time they are calling it arson and criminal mischief.
No information about the arsonist or arsonists was known, and a police investigation is ongoing.
Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 76,068. The municipal area is the second largest by size and by population in the county.
