Seven churches were directed at a suspected attack on arson, which had taken place overnight in New Zealand.
Four churches in the city of Masterton, north of the capital Wellington, have received “moderate to significant” damage until the evidence has been found to have been directed to three more buildings but did not ignite.
The crews from all over the Wairrapa region responded to the fires around 04:30 local time on Saturday (15:30 GMT on Friday).
“Fires are treated as suspicious and targeted at police,” said a fire spokesman and an emergency. No arrests were made.
The English Church of Epiphane, the Catholic Church of St. Patrick Masterton, the Baptist Church of Masterton and the Equappers Church Masterton were set on fire, authorities said.
The local media reported descriptions of broken windows, burned chairs and burned upholstery. All fires were extinguished and no one was injured.
Masterton Mayor Gary Cafe said the obvious attacks had shocked the community, adding that they had come out of blue.
He told the local media: “You just don't expect anything like that to happen and more special on the spot like Masterton.”
Local MP Mike Batic expressed in a statement his “deep sorrow” and described the first answers as “Heroes”.
A funeral home in the same area that contains a chapel was also set on fire around 10:00, but no one was in the building.
Police remain at the scene and asks witnesses to go out.
Officers will also hold patrols in Masterton to reassure residents on Saturday and nearby cities of Fedston and Carterton.
A video circulated on social media shows a person who is responsible for attacks, expressing anti-religious and anti-monarchic sentiment.
Police and fire and emergency New Zealand have been reversed for more comment.
Religious buildings in New Zealand have suffered a number of arson attacks in recent years.
Last year, a church property in Auckland was subjected to two arson attacks that evening. In November, a mosque was also set in the same area.
In 2019, 51 people were killed in two mass mosques in Martchurch. The man responsible to Brenton Taran said he also planned to Burn the mosqueswanting to “make the most casualties as possible.”