Church in Alsace severely vandalised: €10,000 in damage
On the night of 24 April, the collegiate church of Saint-Martin in Colmar was vandalised by an intruder who climbed through scaffolding, damaged sacred objects and left the church in disarray. Despite spending almost three hours inside and causing over €10,000 in damage, the perpetrator - who was caught on CCTV and reportedly under the influence of drugs - stole nothing. The incident shocked the local community and raised serious concerns about the protection of religious and cultural heritage.
The offender gained access by climbing on scaffolding erected for renovation work and smashed a stained glass window to gain entry. He forced open several doors and smashed two display cases. Among the liturgical objects targeted were three sacred vessels: a damaged pyx, a chalice and an empty ciborium, all of which had been moved from their original places. Another ciborium found in the sacristy had its cross broken. To gain access to this area, the intruder broke a wooden panel at the base of the door. The statues of Mary and Christ were vandalised - arms and hands deliberately broken off - while pews were overturned and candles scattered.
Although nothing of significant value was stolen, the destruction of religious symbols and sacred objects has led authorities to consider motives beyond theft, including ideological hostility. Local officials and residents expressed deep shock, describing the attack as a blow to the heart of the community and a threat to cultural heritage. "This is not just an attack on a church, it's an attack on our shared history" shared a resident of Colmar. Security has since been stepped up around churches in the area and the investigations are ongoing.
Picture: fb of the mayor Eric Staumann