The Church Saint Bartholomew in Pegnitz in Germany has been vandalized. The culprits are children between eight and twelve years of age. The destruction caused by them, includes broken windows and historical altar objects. Police are investigating the incident that happened on May 26, 2021.
Four children aged eight to twelve are accused to have caused a not inconsiderable amount of damage while rampaging the protestant church of Saint Bartholomew in Pegnitz in Germany.
Amongst the damaged goods is a 300-year-old gold-plated wooden sword held by the figure of Saint Paul. The gold-plated sword is said to date back to 1697, and be a half-meter long. It broke at the transition of the blade to the pommel.
The church's guest book, windows, figures, the prepared easter lamb, and the alter have also been damaged.
Dean Markus Rausch laments the destruction of the historical, valuable sword. An exact sum of the destruction caused by the children could not yet be released. Although Rausch estimates "several thousand euros".
Since the Church has its doors open until 6 p.m. every day, it is unclear how the children managed to rampage the destruction. A glass pane on the entrance door of the community center was also splintered. At this moment it is unclear if the children caused that as well.
This is not the first incident of vandalism to happen in the church. In the last couple of years, several other attacks of theft and vandalism have been reported to the local police.