Six predominantly black churches damaged by arson in St Louis

David Triggs prepares to give an outdoor service at the New Life Missionary Baptist Church in St Louis. (JB Forbes/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/Associated Press)

Officials in St Louis are offering $2,000 for information regarding a number of fires set to six African-American churches.

Captain Garon Mosby told the St Louis Dispatch that members of the Ebenezer Lutheran Church was the latest to report a fire.

The Anti-Defamation League condemned the string of five separate fires that have taken place in surrounding areas since 8 October.

“While no racial motive has yet been established, the fear and intimidation in the African-American community is substantial and must be validated.”

New Northside Missionary Baptist Church, St Augustine Catholic Church, New Testament Church of Christ, New Life Missionary Baptist Church, and Ebenezer Lutheran Church were all victims to arson the past two weeks.

Michele Brown, business manager at St Augustine, told the Associated Press that the damage was minor and limited to two front doors.

"We are upset and we're concerned that there's an individual who, for whatever reason, is sick. We prayed for them Sunday. There's something wrong with someone who would do something like that."

Officials have said that the investigation is ongoing and asking for witnesses to come forward in the case.