The door of the small church of San Giorgio in Caresana was stained during the night of April 23rd with blood red paint by unknown people.
The vandalism occurred days before the 782nd "Corsa dei Buoi" in Caresana (a tradition of racing oxen through the town) and police investigated whether the vandalism was an animal rights protest. The images from security cameras were examined by law enforcement officers and it was reported that the vandalism took place around 3 a.m. and was committed by two people.
The mayor of the town, Claudio Tambornino, called the crime "serious." La Corsa dei Buoi has been run in the town since 1236 to honor the vow given to San Giorgio for ending the plague in Caresana.
Sources: Notizia Oggi Vercelli and ANSA