Failed firebombing probed at Shoreline Catholic church

King County fire marshals and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating an attempted firebombing early Sunday morning of St. Mark's Catholic Church in Shoreline.

Church officials found shattered glass and smelled gasoline in the church's sanctuary at 6:30 a.m. Sunday during preparations for the 7:30 a.m. Mass, said the Rev. Otto Koltzenburg.

When police and firefighters arrived at the church at 18033 15th Place N.E., they found the remnants of a Molotov cocktail — essentially a bottle filled with a highly flammable liquid with a wick attached.

It had been thrown through tempered glass into the sanctuary. The device failed to ignite, however, as the wick had separated from the bottle and the fuel.

"First we thought it was some sort of vandalism," said Koltzenburg, who said the church has seen a rise in vandalism over the past several years. Investigators later told him that the device apparently was intended to set a fire in the building, he said.

"We were surprised and shocked and somewhat disappointed, and said that we have to deal with this," he said.

Mass was celebrated on schedule Sunday while investigators worked behind police tape in the sanctuary.

Koltzenburg said he explained the situation briefly during each Mass. The King County Fire Investigation Unit is treating the incident like an actual arson, said Lawrence Canary, assistant King County fire marshal.

"This isn't the only investigation that's going on, but obviously it's a priority investigation," said Canary.

Brian Alexander: 206-464-2349 or balexander@seattletimes.com