NBC is the First to Report Molotov Cocktail Attacks on NYC Churches
Jorge Bonilla
July 9th, 2026 11:33 PM
An arrest was made after a series of disturbing Molotov Cocktail bombings of houses of worship in New York City. The sole national evening newscast to report the bombings was NBC Nightly News.
Below is that report in its entirety as aired on Thursday, July 9th, 2026:
TOM LLAMAS: And take a look at this disturbing video. Surveillance catching a man caught on camera throwing a Molotov Cocktail at a Jehovah's Witness building in Queens, New York. Police say this was one of two attacks on houses of worship that happened last night, and that the 26-year-old man was charged- was linked to a third incident as well. Charges are still pending.
It was the tiniest of briefs, but at least NBC made time for the story. That is more than can be said for CBS and ABC who instead covered things like a man spraying a bear in Lake Tahoe, two sea lions charging a crowd in San Diego, and the upcoming culinary offerings at the Iowa State Fair. In the case of ABC, this is particularly rich because they’re infamous for taking a local New York City story and sticking it on the A-block. Rooftop fires, yes. Molotov church fires, not so much.
Even so, NBC’s brief missed a critical element of the story- that there is a suspect in custody. And there’s more. Per The New York Post:
https://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/jorge-bonilla/2026/07/09/nbc-first-report-molotov-cocktail-attacks-nyc-churches
