Unknown assailants desecrated some 15 to 20 graves in Gyongyos.
By JPOST.COM STAFFDesecrated tombstones of a Jewish cemetery (Illustrative)(photo credit: REUTERS)
A Jewish cemetery in north Hungary was vandalized over the weekend, Hungarian media reported on Sunday.Unknown assailants desecrated some 15 to 20 graves in the northern city of Gyongyos, which sits 75 km north-east from the capital, Budapest. The town's Jewish community leader, Peter Weisz, called the vandalism "unprecedented" and said the extent of the damage was still being assessed.Smashed tombstones lay on their sides as human remains, taken out of their place of rest, were scattered across the graveyard. Damage was also caused to the property surrounding the fence that borders the cemetery.This is not the first time the site has been targeted. In 2013, the small graveyard was the subject of a similar attack. Police on Sunday said they were looking into the incident, promising to keep the public informed as the investigation proceeds.The local community had filed a complaint with the police upon hearing of the destruction.Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary condemned the violence, calling it a "barbaric act." Deputy State Secretary Csaba Latorcai vowed to take action against such attacks. The government also said it would invest more in renovating neglected cemeteries.
