An update on violence against churches in Sydney. This one that burned is different from the one where shots were fired, which I posted yesterday. This one is next to an Islamic center. Maybe these riots are indeed not so cut-and-dried racial as the media has portrayed them to be. “Church hall burned down” from AAP, with thanks to all who sent this in:
A FIRE that destroyed church hall in Sydney’s west may be linked to the race riots in Cronulla, New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma said today.
Four men were seen near the Uniting Church hall, which is next to an Islamic centre, in Auburn before the fire broke out about 1.30am (AEDT) today….
The fire follows two days of violent assaults and vandalism during ethnic clashes in Sydney.
It also follows an incident last night in nearby St Joseph the Worker Primary School where shots were fired into cars and parents abused during a Christmas carols service….
Asked if the fire was related to the riots, Mr Iemma said “it may be”.
“I’ve been in contact with the police this morning and the police are treating it as suspicious,” he said.