CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Officials said someone intentionally set fire to the children’s center at Briar Creek Baptist Church on the morning of June 24.
Investigators are also looking into the cause of seven church fires in two weeks across the South -- six predominantly black churches.
PAST ARTICLE: Charlotte church holds first service after arson
"It does make one question, what is really going on here," former FBI Agent Brad Garrett said.
He is now a crime and terrorism analyst for ABC News.
He said the shooting of nine people in a Charleston Church and the protests that followed has led to uneasy feelings for some.
"Opening this wound about African American history in the U.S. triggers all sorts of thoughts in people," Garrett said.
Investigators looking into the fires have to consider whether they are connected, he said.
"Are there any links between these fires from the accelerant used to social media chatter about these?" he said.
None of the fires have been deemed hate crimes but tensions are high.
Investigators have to put on blinders, ignore the political and social discussions and focus solely on finding a cause to the fires, getting the right answers, Garrett said.
"The last think you want to do is prejudge it," he said.
He said even if investigators can prove that some of the other fires were set it will still be difficult to show the motive for setting them.
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