Vandals shattered a historic statue and tried to set fire to the altar of the Virgen de la Estrella hermitage in Ribatajada, prompting outrage and investigation.
On August 20, 2024, the hermitage of the Virgen de la Estrella in Ribatajada, part of Sotorribas municipality in Cuenca, was vandalized. The attackers stole the crown, rosary, and star from the historic statue, then threw it down a slope, leaving it broken. They also attempted to set fire to the altar and damaged interior paintings. Tire marks from a motorcycle were found near the site.
Mayor Fidel Sebastián Morillas reported the incident but noted that only the Diocese of Cuenca can file an official complaint due to the building’s religious status. The statue destroyed was an older version; the current one remains in the parish church.
Source: Voces de Cuenca.