Christmas market vandalized and animals attacked

The German town of Erbach in the state of Hessen is shaken by an unusually brutal and vile attack on a nativity scene with its donkeys and a church.

If they take place at all nowadays, German Christmas markets must be equipped with enormous concrete blocks to prevent potential terrorist attacks. However, this did not stop a group of perpetrators from entering the area around 4 a.m. on the night of November 30 and destroying everything in their path.

In the nativity scene, there were a couple of donkeys that the perpetrators attacked and abused. A man who witnessed the vandals from his balcony told the media how one of them hit one of the donkeys in the face. Before the animal abuse, they had vandalized and torn down Christmas decorations.

The perpetrators then continued to the city’s church where the vandalism continued. They also left excrement behind.

The donkeys have been sent back to their farm where they usually live to recover. The police are appealing for more witnesses who can provide information about what they may have seen.

Costly security

The attack comes after the terror threat level was raised, and Germans were urged to be extra vigilant in connection with Christmas markets. In a terrorist attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg last year, five people were killed and more than 300 were injured.

The enormous security measures required for Christmas markets to be carried out with some guaranteed safety have also led to significantly increased costs. According to GB News, these have risen by 44 percent over the past three years.

Elsewhere in Western Europe, there are reports of vandalism of Christmas decorations. In Paris, the traditional New Year’s concert at Champs-Élysées has been canceled for security reasons.