An Apparent Fire Bomb Thrown Through a Washington Church Window Fell Apart, Caused Minor Damage

SHORELINE, Wash. (AP) -- An apparent fire bomb thrown through a church window here fell apart before entering the building and didn't cause major damage, King County arson investigators said.

Parishioners who arrived at St. Mark's Catholic Church on Sunday were greeted with the smell of gasoline, and crime scene tape blocking off two pews and surrounding the broken window.

''The wick of the device was found outside so we had no fire ignition,'' Fire Marshal Jack Nankervis told KING-TV. ''If we had a bottle into a church that had ignitable liquid in it we would have had a very substantial fire.''

Parishioners said they plan to increase security at the church. ''It's scary,'' Nancy Paynter said.

Copyright 2005 Associated Press