Arsonist does damage to St. John’s Cathedral
Tonight, a local parish is still coming to terms with an early morning break-in that almost cost them their beloved building. Reports are that tourism officers on patrol noticed smoke coming out of the windows of the St. John’s Cathedral after midnight this morning. Fire officials rushed to the scene and managed to prevent serious damage. News 5’s Janelle Chanona has more.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
Around 12:30 this morning an arson attack threatened to destroy the interior of the Saint John’s Cathedral on Albert Street. According to fire officials, the culprit had entered the building by breaking a window.
Henry Baizar, Fire Chief
“We found a bottle containing some liquid containing from what we determined, it is a mixture of diesel and gasoline that they throw along the aisle to start the fire.”
Janelle Chanona
“We also saw some clothing on the floor, did that have anything to do with how the fire was set?”
Henry Baizar
“They used it, they put it [the mixture] in the cloth and just set it on fire. Why these guys are doing this sort of thing I really don’t know but when the police arrived, they met a guy and when they tried to enter the building, he had a little small hatchet that he tried to hack them with. The police later on apprehended him. He also got burned to his buttocks and he was treated there by the paramedics and he was taken away by the police.”
Hospital authorities tell News 5 that man is in a stable condition, but is refusing to identify himself other than the name Haile Selassie. This attack comes just six months after construction was completed to restore the cathedral to grandeur.
Fr. Lloyd Neal, Parish Priest, St. John’s Cathedral
“After refurbishing the cathedral to the best of our ability, to seeing looking in this state is disheartening. But we are stalwarts in the faith and we believe we can move on.”
“Looking at the damages the first thing that we’ll have to do is get an estimate and then launch an appeal to all those people who look on this edifice as a national monument, we’re going to ask them to pitch in their pound in helping us try to recover.”
According to Father Neal, despite the state of the cathedral, the congregation will be able to attend mass and participate in other church activities this week. Reporting for News 5, I am Janelle Chanona.
Because the suspected arsonist is believed to be mentally unstable, police sources tell News 5 that the Director of Public Prosecutions will decide whether charges should be filed against him or recommend treatment.
