173-Year-Old Church Burned Down. It’s Not The First In Recent Months.

Investigators have not ruled out arson in the fire that destroyed a historic Brooklyn church last month, the latest in a series of recent incidents involving New York City churches. 

The June 19 fire destroyed the steeple of South Bushwick Reformed Church, causing it to collapse. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage of a person seen leaving the area shortly before the fire,  according to the New York Post. 

The church, which was built in 1853, sustained extensive damage, complicating investigators’ efforts to determine the cause of the blaze.  

On July 8, a man was arrested after allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails at two different houses of worship in Queens, according to ABC News. Around 11:35 p.m., the NYPD 102nd Precinct received a call about a man throwing an “incendiary device” at the Iglesia Bautista El Mesias Church in Ozone Park. 

A man has been arrested for allegedly firebombing two New York City churches late Wednesday night. The suspect, identified only as a 36-year-old male, was caught on video throwing Molotov cocktails at the Iglesia Bautista El Mesias church and the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s… pic.twitter.com/mvAkurXU7R

— D. Scott @eclipsethis2003 (@eclipsethis2003) July 10, 2026

Authorities arrested a 36-year-old man after he allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at two Queens churches and another nearby building. 

In April, a 138-year-old church in Astoria was destroyed by a five-alarm fire that remains under investigation. 

The recent incidents have prompted criticism on social media from users who questioned why Mayor Zohran Mamdani has not publicly commented on the fires. 

Another post again highlighted Mamdani’s silence over the church fires adding, “I wonder why.”

Not a single word from Mayor Mamdani on 4 recent “church fires” in NYC

I wonder why pic.twitter.com/I6QgjLhI5r

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) July 12, 2026