Unknown perpetrators have vandalised St Lucia's Church in the Oberveischede district of Olpe. Candles, prayer books and brochures from the wooden display are strewn across the floor. Even worse was the damage to the holy water font. The massive stone vessel was smashed. The culprit or culprits also stole 60 tea lights. The police are investigating.
The church will be closed this week. It is only opened for services and funerals.
Oberveischede. "I wanted to close the church in the evening. Then I saw this," says Ulrich Schneider, pointing to the devastation. The sexton is still in shock. "Who would do such a thing?"
Together with other cases of vandalism in the area, the total damage was in the low to mid-five-figure euro range.