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

Police in New Brunswick say they’ve charged a 68-year-old man with arson after a historic church burned down earlier this week.

Emergency services say they responded to a report of a religious building on fire early Monday morning in the Acadian community of Saint-Simon, N.B.

Posts on social media show Saint-Simon Catholic Church, built out of wood and about 100 years old, engulfed by fire.

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RCMP say a provincial fire marshal investigation found the fire was set intentionally and the church was unoccupied at the time.

Police say the accused, who is from Saint-Simon, was kept in custody and is scheduled to appear in court for a bail hearing on Friday.

The Mounties are asking anyone with information that could help their investigation into the fire to contact their Caraquet detachment.

Local mayor Bernard Thériault said on social media it was the worst disaster in the history of the small community.