New Brunswick police charge man, 68, with arson after historic church burns

New Brunswick police have charged a 68-year-old man with arson following the burning down of a historic church earlier this week. Emergency services responded to a report of a religious building on fire in the Acadian community of Saint-Simon, N.B., around 3 a.m. on Monday. The Saint-Simon Catholic Church, a wooden structure dating back about 100 years, was found engulfed in flames.

A provincial fire marshal investigation determined the fire was intentionally set and the church was unoccupied at the time. The accused, a resident of Saint-Simon, was taken into custody and is due to appear in court for a bail hearing on Friday. Police are urging anyone with relevant information to contact the Caraquet detachment. The mayor of Saint-Simon described the incident as the worst disaster in the community's history.