Israeli police said Thursday they had detained 16 youths from Zionist settlements over a suspected arson attack at a shrine where many Christians believe Christ performed the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000.

Israeli police said Thursday they had detained 16 youths from Zionist settlements over a suspected arson attack at a shrine where many Christians believe Christ performed the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000.

"In an area near the church, 16 youths were detained for investigation in order to check their involvement in the incident before dawn," police spokeswoman Luba Samri said in a statement, referring to the Church of the Multiplication at Tabgha in northern 'Israel'.

She said all 16 were from settlements in the occupied West Bank, including 10 from Yitzhar, which is known as a bastion of extremists and where some residents have been involved in so-called previous 'hate crimes'.

But later she told the AFP news agency that they were freed "with no conditions attached, after being interviewed and giving statements".