Arsonists Destroy Creche

Arsonists set fire to a creche in the Cambridge Common the night after Christmas and nailed a sparrow and anonymous anti-religious message to the remains of the Nativity scene.

A timing device and incendiary device were used to ignite the fire, which occurred about 3:30 a.m. on December 26, said Kenneth Clark of the Cambridge Fire Investigation Unit. The device consisted of "a kitchen timer wired to barbecue lighter fluid," said Cambridge Deputy Fire Chief John Gelinas.

The incendiary device used by the arsonists was "not very common at all," Clark said. "It isn't the average thing."

"The image we got was that this was somebody who knew what they were doing," Gelinas said.

The vandals also nailed a dead sparrow, beef tongue and sign, reading, "When will you people realize that your gods are dead?" to the Nativity scene, Gelinas said. The sign was created with anonymous news-paper letters and the word "dead" was outlined in red, he added.

Below this message, the investigators found another threat, which read, "We're not kidding," Gelinas said.

Gelinas said that local ministers have suggested that the bombing might be connected to devil worship or witchcraft cults which often use animals parts in their rituals.

"The thing is so obviously sick we feel sorry for somebody who would do anything like it," said one Cambridge religious leader who wished not to be identified.

"There are different kinds of sick people, and these sick people are into technology," he added. "That's scary."

Gelinas said that the police and fire departments have suspects in the case, but refused to give further details.