Unknown persons set fire to the cloth covering the main altar of the church of San Francesco, the sanctuary of San Nicola Greco. The cause of the crime is still unknown, although there has been a lot of vandalism in the city in recent weeks.
The incident was discovered by parishioners arriving for the morning service when the parish priest, Don Erminio Di Paolo, saw the altar engulfed in flames.
The fire also blackened part of the church floor, but fortunately caused no further damage. Mayor Donatello Di Prinzio was also concerned about the incident: "We are monitoring the cameras for cases of damage and will come to identify the culprits, who will face criminal prosecution."