18 Cemetery Iron Crosses Stolen and Vandalized
Between 6 and 9 June, the cemetery of Genêts was vandalized and looted. A total of 18 cast iron crosses were stolen, and their foot broken. 18 graves were ransacked and 17 cast iron crosses were stolen. The Crosses were broken, cut into pieces and sometimes abandoned on the spot. An investigation of gendarmerie is in progress.
Two nights in a row on Monday June 7 and Tuesday June 8, cast iron crosses were stolen or vandalized in the cemetery of Genêts, an historical monument in the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel. The central alley of the cemetery was littered with debris: pieces of cast iron crosses and fragments of grave markers.
"When I saw the damage, I would have cried. Our church is classified as a historical monument, as is its enclosure. It is one of the specificities of the village, it is like Mont-Saint-Michel. This enclosure is a public garden for the inhabitants. Like the church, it is very popular." said Catherine Brunaud-Rhyn, mayor of Genêts.
The police found a connection to the theft of eight additional crosses from the cemeteries in Sartilly and Saint Jean le Thomas on the 11th and the 17th of June. After a thorough investigation, the police managed to apprehend a suspect. During a search of his home, six of the stolen crosses were found and recovered.
Sources: Actu.fr, christianophobie.fr, France 3
Symbolic Photo by LOGAN WEAVER on Unsplash