Grave crosses stolen and desecrated in series of cemetery attacks

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

Several Christian grave crosses were stolen from burial sites in a series of incidents at cemeteries in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.

A series of thefts targeting Christian grave decorations has been reported at cemeteries in Klingenmünster and Kapellen-Drusweiler, in Rhineland-Palatinate.

At the cemetery in Klingenmünster, unknown perpetrators stole a copper grave cross and a metal figure from two graves between 2 and 4 June 2026. At a third grave, an apparent attempt was made to remove another cross, leaving the metal cross bent and damaged.

Similar incidents were recorded at the cemetery in Kapellen-Drusweiler during May 2026. Between 19 and 22 May, and again between 21 and 29 May, perpetrators removed a brass grave cross with a golden sphere and a bronze bowl from graves in the cemetery.

In a further related incident reported by police, a copper figure was forcibly removed from a grave at a cemetery on Provisstraße, causing approximately €500 in property damage.

Police have opened investigations and appealed for witnesses who may have observed suspicious persons or vehicles near the cemeteries during the relevant periods.

Sources