Parish Church Cemetery Vandalized in Zabrzu-Helence

Country: Poland

Date of incident: October 27, 2019


More than 40 graves were vandalized in the cemetery of the Our Lady Mother of the Church (Maryi Panny Matki Kościoła) parish of Zabrzu-Helence during the night between October 26 and 27, just days before Catholics observe All Saints' and All Souls' Days. Granite tombstones were torn down and broken, and wooden crosses were destroyed by unknown vandals.

A police investigation was opened and the perpetrators could face up to two years in prison for the crime of disturbing a burial place. 

Sources & photo credit (Olga Krzyzyk): Dziennik Zachodni and Dziennik Zachodni