19 Cemeteries vandalised: Crosses broken off and stolen

Case information
Incident date
Country
Spain
Place
Toledo
Categories
  • Social Hostility / Intolerance
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Private
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Desecration
  • Theft
  • Vandalism of Cemetery
  • Intolerance towards Religious Symbols
Place of Incident
  • Cemetery
Bias Indicators
  • Pattern or Frequency of Attacks
  • Significance of Property/Structure/Location to religious community
  • Time/Place/Location
Reported to Police
  • Yes
Response of Local Authorities
  • Investigated
Image credit: Libertad Religiosa

Between May and July, a gang stole crucifixes and images from 19 cemeteries in the province of Toledo. Those responsible have been arrested.

In December 2023, three other people were arrested for attacks on three cemeteries in the same province.

In connection with these attacks, the Observatory for Religious Freedom warned of an increase in attacks on cemeteries.

Source: Libertad Religiosa