Israel arrests Jewish suspects over torching famous church

Jerusalem: Israeli security forces on Sunday said they had arrested several Jewish suspects over an arson attack last month at a famous Catholic church on the Sea of Galilee.

"Following a joint undercover investigation by the Shin Bet security service and the police's nationalistic crime unit, several suspects have been arrested for burning the Bread and Loaves Church in the northern Sea of Galilee," said a statement by the Shin Bet, Xinhua reported.

"The suspects were transferred to interrogation in a Shin Bet facility," the statement added.

A police spokesperson declined to disclose more details, as most of the case is still under gag order.

However, an ultra-right organisation said three Israeli youths had been arrested early on Sunday morning.

Two people were lightly injured due to the fire on June 18, which caused extensive damage to the church building.

A Hebrew graffiti was spray-painted on a wall of the historic church. The graffiti was taken from a passage in the Jewish prayer book, calling to destroy worshipers of idols.

The arson triggered a widespread condemnations as well as concern for the safety of Christians worldwide.

The church marks the site where Christians believe Jesus preformed the miracle of feeding throngs with five loaves of bread and two fishes. It is located above a Byzantine-era church on the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel.