Vandalism and Threats in Lutheran Church in Riga
On July 23, a man wearing a face mask entered the Old Lutheran Church of St. Gertrude in Riga and vandalised the church. He damaged a baptismal vessel and an icon, scattered sand, poured water on the vessel and left the church. When entering the church he also threatened the church warden not to call the police or he would physically assault her. The pastor of the parish, Chris Kalnins, also reported that the attacker made death threats against the pastor.
“Yesterday around 4:30 a man in a mask came in, threatened the attendant, if she called anyone, he would hit her. He had two bottles with him, one with sand, the other with water. He threw those bottles in the direction of the altar,” pastor Kalnins told the media.
After receiving information about the incident, the law enforcement officers started an investigation, traced the alleged perpetrator and arrested him. The motive and the threats made by the man in the church are being investigated. According to Baltic News, pastor Kalnins voiced two different suspicions about the perpetrator's motive. Firstly, that it was an act of hatred against the Christian faith and everything it stands for. Or, secondly, that it was the same young man who was angry at the church the day before because of the Ukrainian flag displayed in the altar area. He had thretened to return if the flag is not removed.
Sources: Baltic News, Latvijas Kristigais radio, tautaruna.lv, la.lv, Degpunkta.tv3.lv
Image: Twitter (X)