Man storms altar area and devastates St. Antonius Church in Düsseldorf
A man entered St. Antonius Church in Düsseldorf, forced his way into the altar area and damaged liturgical objects before being detained by police shortly afterwards.
An incident at St. Antonius Church has unsettled parishioners after a man entered the church on the morning of April 28 and deliberately vandalised the interior.
According to city dean Frank Heidkamp, the prepetrator penetrated into the choir area, knocked over large candlesticks that broke. Then he threw the Easter candle on the ground and damaged it. The man also damaged additional furnishings before leaving the building. Police apprehended the approximately 30-year-old suspect shortly afterwards nearby.
Parishioners reacted with shock at the destruction of objects central to worship. Heidkamp stressed that such attacks are not typical in the city, stating: "Wilful destruction of this magnitude has so far been the exception in Düsseldorf. Something like this happens about once or twice a year." He added that, despite the incidents, churches would remain open and accessible to the public during the day.
Source and ohoto: rp-online.de, MSN