(JTA) — Children caused the vandalism of a Jewish cemetery in Slovakia, in which at least 20 headstones were damaged, not extremists as was originally suspected.
The gravestones were pushed over, causing some to crack, in mid-December in the northern town of Rajec.
Police in the Zilina Region announced on Friday that the vandals were five boys, aged 9 to 12, the Slovak Spectator reported.
“The motive of the minors’ act was no racial, ethnic or religious intolerance, hatred towards another group of people, or the promotion of an ideology aimed at suppressing fundamental rights and freedoms,” said Jana Balogová, a spokesperson for the Žilina Region Police Department, according to the TASR newswire.
The vandalism caused about $5,500 in damages. Due to the ages of the perpetrators, criminal prosecution has been halted.
Earlier in December, dozens of headstones were knocked down and set on fire at the Jewish cemetery in Námestovo, a town in northern Slovakia near the Polish border. There have been no arrests in the incident.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
