A strange-looking crew wearing goth clothing destroyed a cross and stained glass window at a Catholic church in Brooklyn, authorities said.
at least 4 people — Surveillance images also show people who may be wearing face paint. — According to the New York City Police Department, the man walked to St. Columba’s Church in Marine Park around 2:45 a.m. on January 27.
Images shared by gang police officers show four people who appear to be teenagers or young adults, one wearing a black leather jacket and the other wearing a long black coat. The third person is wearing camouflage pants.
strange footage released by the church The footage shows the rock music rejecters attempting to enter the church through a side door on a quiet, snowy street, before two of them stab themselves repeatedly with what appears to be a knife at something outside the building. I could see that it was happening.
A spokeswoman for the Diocese of Brooklyn said footage showed vandals attempting to tear the cross from the church’s exterior wall and punch a hole in its base.
Spokesperson John Quaglione said a stained glass window was broken.
“We are one week away from Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent,” Quaglione told the Post in a statement. “In this season of repentance, it is our hope that these people will convert and seek forgiveness for their sins against this diocese.
“The increase in hate crime incidents against different houses of worship and people of different faiths in New York City is alarming,” he continued. “Any persecution of faith is contrary to the religious freedom that is fundamental to this country. We thank the New York City Police Department for their response and continued investigation.”
Police say the incident is currently being investigated as a hate crime. No arrests had been made by Wednesday.
The disturbing crime occurred months after a man wearing a purple priest’s robe and no pants vandalized the Basilica of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton at Rosary Catholic Church in lower Manhattan, police said at the time. police officers and witnesses said.
Also in the summer, vandals sprayed black paint and the word “fake” on a statue of the Virgin Mary outside the Church of the Resurrection in Gerritsen Beach, police said at the time.
In June, a deranged man destroyed a framed photo of Pope Francis at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Astoria, then poured paint thinner on the basement floor and dressed up in priest’s robes, police said. announced by the diocese.
Anyone with information on the latest vandalism incidents is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website. https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, Or with X @NYPDTips.
