During an advent concert in the parish church of Claußnitz on Sunday, December 2, unknown people turned on a faucet in the boiler room and flooded the cellar with it. "The boiler was totally under water," said Pastor Christian Schmidt. When the damage was discovered, the fire brigade and police were alerted. Two firefighters pumped the approximately 60 centimeters high water out of the basement. The police estimated the damage to be several thousand euros.
A heating company had to dismantle the entire gas heating system to determine if the motor and pump were still usable. Broken parts would have to be replaced.
The motive was unclear and nothing was stolen, but police began an investigation.
Mayor Günter Hermsdorf said he was "deeply shocked," adding that the act was not a silly boy's prank, it was incomprehensible. The bell and roof structure was undergoing a 450,000 euro renovation and the flooding would complicate the work.
The church is said to have been built around 1200 and is under a preservation order.