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White teen girl detailed plan for racist attack on black churchgoers in notebook, police say
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/11/19/white-teen-girl-detailed-plan-racist-attack-black-churchgoers-notebook-police-say/
Police in northern Georgia said Tuesday that they arrested a white teenager who was plotting to kill parishioners at a mostly black church, thwarting an alleged racist attack that highlighted a growing threat of hate-fueled violence against houses of worship.
The 16-year-old girl was charged with attempt to commit murder after students at her high school told administrators she had a notebook filled with “detailed plans” to kill members of the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Gainesville, Ga., according to police.
The alleged plot was “definitely racially motivated,” said Sgt. Kevin Holbrook of the Gainesville Police Department. The notebook, he said, contained “manifesto-type” language that discussed how she wanted to assault black parishioners with butcher knives and other sharp-edged weapons.
“There were many writings and drawings, different depictions, and a lot of hateful messages in it,” Holbrook told The Washington Post. “As far as the details go, they were down to very specific information.”
Police said the girl researched African American churches online, choosing Bethel AME Church because it is small. Investigators believe she went to the church at some point earlier this month, possibly to carry out the attack, but found the building empty, according to police.
“By pure grace, the church did not have service that evening,” Holbrook said. “We were very fortunate here.”
Police in northern Georgia said Tuesday that they arrested a white teenager who was plotting to kill parishioners at a mostly black church, thwarting an alleged racist attack that highlighted a growing threat of hate-fueled violence against houses of worship.
The 16-year-old girl was charged with attempt to commit murder after students at her high school told administrators she had a notebook filled with “detailed plans” to kill members of the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Gainesville, Ga., according to police.
The alleged plot was “definitely racially motivated,” said Sgt. Kevin Holbrook of the Gainesville Police Department. The notebook, he said, contained “manifesto-type” language that discussed how she wanted to assault black parishioners with butcher knives and other sharp-edged weapons.
“There were many writings and drawings, different depictions, and a lot of hateful messages in it,” Holbrook told The Washington Post. “As far as the details go, they were down to very specific information.”
Police said the girl researched African American churches online, choosing Bethel AME Church because it is small. Investigators believe she went to the church at some point earlier this month, possibly to carry out the attack, but found the building empty, according to police.
“By pure grace, the church did not have service that evening,” Holbrook said. “We were very fortunate here.”
