White Supremacy In America: Craig Cobb Church Fire Under Investigation
A fire that destroyed a North Dakota church belonging to known white supremacist Craig Cobb is under investigation as a possible arson.
The Zion Lutheran Church, in Nome, North Dakota, was recently acquired by Cobb, and the church was destroyed by fire Wednesday, KVRR, Fargo, reported Wednesday.
The cause of the fire was unknown. After the blaze, all that remained of the structure was the chimney and the foundation, WDAY, Fargo, reported.
An investigation is underway with assistance from the North Dakota State Fire Marshall’s Office.
“It was pretty much engulfed when the guys got here,” Chief Randy Nagle from the Nome Fire Department told KVRR.
Cobb has said the incident was an attack on his life. The fire occurred on the same day the news of Cobb’s purchase of the structure was published in Fargo Forum newspaper. The church was about 70 miles southwest of Fargo.
“It was a beautiful building. It was beautiful. It’s been here since like 1908,” Langland said of the former church.
Cobb, who also goes by Paul Cobb, bought the church in February. He famously began purchasing properties in a town called Leith in 2012 to create an Aryan enclave for white supremacists, the Southern Poverty Law Center reported. Cobb began threatening residents and eventually pleaded guilty to “terrorizing,” a felony. He was put on probation, and the court ordered Cobb to leave Leith. Cobb moved to Nome where residents said they were less than pleased with his arrival.
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