Swastikas carved into Jewish headstones in Haren, Germany
Swastikas have been discovered etched into the headstones and spray-painted across memorials at a Jewish cemetery in Haren, Germany.
On 17th November, the vandalism was reported to the local authorities. According to the evidence, however, it is believed that numerous carvings may have been chiseled into the gravestones several months ago, and many remain clearly visible. With rising incidents targeting the Jewish community in the country, the police have described the recent desecration as overtly antisemitic and the case has been taken over by state security.
In Chemnitz, a similar incident occurred in which a swastika was spray-painted on memorial “stumbling stones”. The brass street tiles were placed at the former homes of Holocaust victims to commemorate and honour their lives.
A local politician has expressed growing concern at the many similar acts of vandalism across Germany that seek to disrespect and marginalise it’s Jewish residents.
Police investigating the recent vandalism on the Jewish cemetery are appealing to the public for any possible information on the crime and for witnesses to come forward to aid the identification of the perpetrators.
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Image credit: Jewish Community of Haren/Eli Nahum/Monitoring Antisemitism Worldwide