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Hundreds of French graves vandalised

February 19, 2015 11:59
Defaced tombstones at the Jewish cemetery of Sarre-Union

By

Rosa Doherty,

Rosa Doherty

1 min read

Five people aged 15-17 have been taken into custody in eastern France over the defacement of hundreds of Jewish graves.

The youngest came forward after seeing the outrage over the attack, in which more than 300 tombstones in the town of Sarre-Union were desecrated.

France's interior Minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, called the vandalism "a despicable act". He added: "The country will not tolerate this new injury which goes against the values that all French people share."

It is not the first time that the Jewish cemetery in the town has been targeted. In 2001, 54 graves were vandalised.