Church arsons continue to decrease

WASHINGTON — Church arsons have decreased for the third straight year after a jump in the arson rate in 1996, a task force studying the problem has reported. About 100 churches were burned or were the targets of attempted bombings in 1999, compared to nearly 300 in 1996, said the National Church Arson Task Force.

The surge in attacks in 1996, especially against black Southern churches, was the catalyst for the task force, which includes federal and state law enforcement agencies.

During its three years of investigation, the committee has looked into more than 800 arsons, bombings or attempted bombings that occurred between January 1995 and October 1999, the Associated Press reported. Federal, state and local authorities made 364 arrests and obtained 267 convictions, said the group’s third report to President Clinton.