On September 27, unknown perpetrators knocked over the baptismal font of holy water, the ornate bronze dome and the font bowl in St Mary's Church in Mönchengladbach. Wax from the candles was scattered all over the church and flowers were thrown into the rubbish bins.
Priest Klaus Hurtz "reported the consequences of 'senseless destruction', 'senseless behaviour'" to the police.
"The stone that was knocked over was anchored in the ground and was so heavy that three people would have had to pick it up again, the priest says, describing the force with which the unknown person had to proceed. Something like that leaves me speechless."
This is not the first case of vandalism in the church. In late July, an unknown person painted a swastika on the wall of the church.