The former Marine who opened fire in a Michigan church and set it ablaze in September was motivated by "anti-religious beliefs" against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the FBI confirmed Friday.

The attack was a targeted act of violence, "believed to be motivated by the assailant’s anti-religious beliefs against the Mormon religious community," the FBI said Friday.

The FBI has thwarted a potential terrorist attack, and multiple people in Michigan have been arrested, according to the agency’s director.

The FBI has confirmed that the man who opened fire in a Michigan church and set it ablaze was motivated by “anti religious beliefs” against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints