Police are appealing for sightings of a vehicle as part of the investigation into arsons at several churches in Masterton on Saturday.
Four Masterton churches suffered damage ranging from “moderate to significant” on Saturday in a group of suspicious fires believed to have started between 4.25am and 4.35am.
The churches affected were the Anglican Church of the Epiphany, St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Masterton Baptist Church, and Equippers Church Masterton.
Police said they were following “strong lines of inquiry” and sought information about a green Ford Festiva seen leaving one of the fires.
“Police are working to establish the movements of the vehicle in the early hours of Saturday morning when the arsons were reported, and the day or days beforehand,” a spokesperson said.
The vehicle was located abandoned on Sunday on Mikimiki Road north of Masterton, leading armed police to cordon off the road as they worked to locate the occupant.
“A significant search was deployed into the area, however no occupants of the vehicle were located,” the spokesperson added.
The blazes were believed to have started between 4.25am and 4.35am. (Source: 1News)
Police said officers carried out checks at other churches in the town on Saturday morning — and located evidence to suggest three further churches were targeted but did not catch alight.
“It does look as if they’ve used petrol bombs [for at least some of the churches],” a police spokesperson said.
Anyone with relevant information, including sightings of this vehicle, should contact police on 105.
