Teens Accused in Fire at Missouri Church

Four teenagers in the southeast Missouri town of Poplar Bluff are facing charges for allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails into a church, then setting the church on fire when the explosives didn’t go off.

The Poplar Bluff Daily American Republic says the teens are 17 to 19 years old. All four are charged with second-degree arson and unlawful use of a weapon.

The fire was reported around 3:45 a.m. on Feb. 6 at Fellowship General Baptist Church. The suspects told police that when they realized the Molotov cocktails did not start a fire, they returned to the church, dumped gasoline into the building through windows they had broken out, then ignited the fire.

Information from: Poplar Bluff Daily American Republic