A spokesperson for the municipality tells the ANP that these include photos on porcelain plates and glass elements of graves that have been smashed, probably with a hammer. Tombstones have also been pushed over, police report.
One of the destroyed graves belongs to Stacey Franken’s mother. She read about the destruction on Facebook and decided to go and have a look for herself today.
Glass plate shattered
“My mother’s glass plate is completely shattered,” Stacey tells RTL News. “It was hit with an object and it shattered. I don’t know anything more than that.”
Stacey does not yet know who is responsible for destroying her mother’s grave. “It’s terrible.” The graves next to her mother’s have also been worked. “Photos on graves have been vandalized, everything is broken.”
The destruction probably took place between 3:00 PM on Saturday afternoon and 10:00 AM on Sunday morning.
It is unclear who is responsible for the destruction. It is clear that this is not a targeted action against one person or against specific groups, because the destroyed graves are spread throughout the cemetery.
Declaration
So far, Stacey has not heard anything from the municipality, which owns the cemetery. According to the spokesperson, the municipality will inform relatives by letter shortly. “We will also advise people to report this themselves,” the spokesperson said. Stacey has now filed a report.
Stacey has not yet thought about what to do next, and who will be responsible for the restoration of her mother’s grave. “First we have to process this,” she says.
The police are investigating the case and are asking witnesses and people with camera images to come forward.
Tags: graves destroyed Utrecht cemetery Glass plate mother shattered RTL News
