Dozens more gravestones defaced in France

Crucifixes overturned, swastikas sprayed on graves in two small towns; 5 teens face charges for desecrating Jewish tombstones

Graves desecrated in Tracy-sur-Mer, France on February 18, 2015. (screen capture: NBC News)
Graves desecrated in Tracy-sur-Mer, France on February 18, 2015. (screen capture: NBC News)

PARIS — Dozens of gravesites were found vandalized in two small-town graveyards in France Wednesday, as five teens faced preliminary charges in massive destruction at a Jewish cemetery in eastern France.

France’s Interior Ministry said crucifixes were overturned and gravesites disturbed in Tracy-sur-Mer, a tiny town next to the D-Day landing beaches, and in Saint-Beat, in southwest France. Swastikas were found in two other widely separated towns, the ministry said Wednesday.

The discoveries came after 250 Jewish graves were desecrated last weekend in the eastern French town of Sarre-Union.

Five local teens faced preliminary charges in the Sarre-Union vandalism. The prosecutor, Philippe Vannier, said the “anti-Semitic motive” was clear and that they all admitted participation.

There have been no arrests in the other cases.

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