Muslim graves vandalised in Denmark
About 25 Muslim graves have been vandalised at
a cemetery in Denmark.
Anders Hansen, a spokesman for the local
police, said vandals had pushed over headstones, smashing several into pieces,
at the cemetery in Esbjerg.
Esbjerg is Denmark's fifth biggest city and is
250km west of the capital, Copenhagen.
"We don't know who did this," Hansen said, adding
the attack probably happened late on Saturday or early on Sunday.
The cemetery has both Christian and Muslim
graves, but only the Muslim graves were desecrated, he said.
Statement
The attack came at a sensitive time, with
outrage sweeping the Muslim world over offensive cartoons published
in a Danish newspaper.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Danish prime
minister, said in a statement: "I strongly condemn this
disgraceful act and deeply regret that Muslim graves have been desecrated."
He said he denounced every act aimed at
offending people because of their religious or ethnic background.
"Vandalism against
cemeteries is a criminal act and authorities will take the necessary steps to
find those responsible and bring them to justice," he said.
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