Police in Barcelona have launched a formal investigation following a serious vandalism attack targeting Jewish graves at the Les Corts cemetery. The incident, which took place over the weekend, has drawn sharp condemnation from city officials and community leaders, who have described the desecration as a clear act of antisemitism. This attack on Jewish graves vandalised in Barcelona represents a disturbing hate crime.
The Mossos d’Esquadra, the Catalan police force, confirmed that the General Information Commissioner’s Office has taken charge of the case. This action followed unified complaints filed on Monday by both the Jewish community of Barcelona and Cementiris de Barcelona, the municipal cemetery authority.
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Home » Jewish graves vandalised in Barcelona: Police investigation into cemetery attack
Details of the Jewish graves attack
According to reports, officials at the Les Corts cemetery first alerted the Jewish community on Saturday night. They discovered that the Hebrew section of the grounds had been violently vandalised. In total, approximately 20 burial niches were damaged or defaced.
While no group or individual has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, the targeted nature of the damage has led authorities to treat the incident with high priority. Therefore, the police investigation will focus on identifying the perpetrators behind what community leaders are calling a hate crime. This incident contributes to concerns over rising crime rates in Barcelona, which have become a significant issue for residents.
Security measures and closures
In response to the vandalism, the Jewish community and cemetery authorities reached an agreement on Sunday. Consequently, they decided to temporarily close the Hebrew sections of three major cemeteries in the city to prevent further incidents. The affected sites are:
- Les Corts
- Sant Andreu
- Collserola
Authorities have stated that these spaces will remain closed until further notice. Meanwhile, the investigation proceeds and security is assessed.
Official condemnation of the vandalism
The Barcelona City Council has issued a strong statement lamenting the events. Officials described the vandalism as “intolerable acts that violate the dignity of the deceased, the respect due to spaces of mourning, and coexistence.”
The Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE) and the Jewish Community of Barcelona (CJB) have also expressed profound concern regarding the profanation. In addition, they released a statement shortly after the discovery denouncing the attack. This aligns with political leaders who have labelled the event as an antisemitic aggression.
As the investigation continues, the Mossos d’Esquadra are appealing for any information that could assist in identifying those responsible for the desecration. The force, which includes the Catalan police’s elite intervention unit, is tasked with handling serious criminal threats throughout the region. For further context on hate crime legislation, you can review information from the UK Government’s hate crime guidance.
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