Vietnamese Baptist Church Burns in Philadelphia Riots
A building belonging to the Vietnam Baptist Church in Philadelphia was burned Tuesday night as unrest continued in Philadelphia following the shooting of 27-year-old Walter Wallace by police after he lunged at officers responding to a domestic disturbance call Monday.
During the second night of unrest in the city looters and rioters numbering in the thousands caused widespread damage to dozens of retailers and a church.
Pastor Philip Pham received a call Tuesday night from a church member whose friend had seen the flames and seven fire trucks surrounding the church.
“I have no idea why they attacked our church, they burned it from the roof. They threw flammable chemicals on the roof and [flames] burned through the roof” and down through the rest of the building” said Pastor Philip Pham.
The building suffered extensive damage throughout, including damage to computer equipment that the church says can not be replaced.
