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SHOCK: The cross that was set alight outside the St. John Bapist Church in Sapulpa, Oklahoma

THREE PEOPLE have been arrested and face hate crime charges for burning a cross outside a black church.

The cross, which was planted and burned outside St.John's Baptist Church in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, was spotted by a passer by, who reported it to the police.

Charles Redfern of the Creek County Sheriff's Department said: "We have three (suspects), as of now. One adult has admitted to it. One of the juveniles has admitted it to it. The other juvenilehas not been interviewed yet.”

"We are considering it a hate crime. “That's the way we're deeming the crime. A hate crime with an arson charge attached to it”

“It's unacceptable in this day and time, and of course, it definitely won't be tolerated, but just the reasoning behind it, we couldn't imagine because we don't see a lot of that,” he added.

Church treasurer Cormelia Booker said she never thought she would such an act carried out at her church, which has previously been burgled and vandalised.

“I thought that kind of act was gone forever,” she said.

The identities of the suspects are yet to be released.