MONTGOMERY, AL- According to reports, an illegal immigrant from China is now facing federal charges after allegedly setting multiple fires at a historic church in Alabama. 

A woman facing an arson charge after several fires at First Baptist Church in Montgomery is now facing a federal charge.

She's charged under a statute that makes it illegal to set fire to a building involved in interstate or foreign commerce.  https://t.co/CiT39IDbah

— Kirsten Fiscus (@KDFiscus) October 8, 2021

Investigators were searching for the suspect after four separate fires broke out at First Baptist Church of Montgomery, located on South Perry Street around 2 a.m. on Thursday, September 30th. 27-year-old Xiaoquin Yan of China has been charged with second-degree arson.

Yan first arrived in the United States on an F-1 student visa to attend a university in Alabama. Reports now indicate that Yan overstayed her visa and became an illegal immigrant living in the United States.

According to the church, where Gov. Kay Ivey (R) attends services, Yan caused at least $25,000 worth of damage. The church was first founded in 1829 and its existing sanctuary has been around since 1916. Lead Pastor Mark L. Bethea said that the fires were set inside the main sanctuary, in the historic Stakely Sanctuary and in some of the church’s office spaces.

He stated that the fires had varying degrees of success, with the reception office being destroyed. At the foot of the cross in the sanctuary, Yan started a gasoline trail, making a winding walk up the center aisle. 

https://ourcommunitynow.com/news-local/pics-illegal-immigrant-from-china-tries-to-burn-down-church-in-alabama