Arsonist Burns Church Altar in Germany
On 20 January, the Paul Gerhardt Church in Berlin fell victim to an arson attack, destroying the altar, an image of Christ and the organ. Thirty firefighters were needed to extinguish the fire. The Evangelical congregation was shocked by the incident, with Pastor Aljona Hofmann saying: 'It strikes at the heart of the church.' According to a witness, a man left the church in a hurry shortly before the fire started; the church would normally have been closed at this time. The police are investigating.
Christiane Bertelsmann, spokesperson for the Protestant Church District of Berlin, spoke about the devastating effects of the attack.
The church must remain closed while repairs are carried out, as smoke has covered the entire interior. The community will have to postpone events and find an alternative venue in the meantime. The congregation is the largest in central Berlin, with around 10,000 members.
Sources: Tagesspiegel, NTV, Zeit, RND, RBB, Berliner Zeitung, Bild.de
Symbolic Photo by Mateus Campos Felipe on Unsplash