The FBI is investigating whether a spate of fires at predominantly black churches in the last seven days are more than coincidence.
The fires have occurred in five states - Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Ohio.
Three of the fires have been confirmed as arson, with the rest still under investigation.
The fires began Monday, June 22, when someone stacked bales of hay against the door of Seventh Day Adventist Church in Knoxville, Tenn., and lit them. The most recent fire was Saturday, in Elyria, Ohio.
Investigators say there is no evidence that the fires are related, or that a hate crime has taken place.
"They're being investigated to determine who is responsible and what motives are behind them," said FBI spokesperson Paul Bresson. "I'm not sure there is any reason to link them together at this point."
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