Statues toppled and crosses smashed: Jaffa resident arrested after causing damage at city church

A Jaffa resident in his 20s was arrested this morning on suspicion of vandalism and causing damage at the Church of Saint Anthony on Yefet Street. The arrest came after a report yesterday of statues being knocked over and broken, and crosses detached from their places. Police collected evidence and identified the suspect, who was transferred for questioning.

Police from the Jaffa station in the Ayalon district arrested this morning (Monday) a Jaffa resident in his 20s on suspicion of an act of vandalism and causing damage at the Church of Saint Anthony on Yefet Street in the city. The arrest came after a report was received yesterday morning at the police hotline about an incident of vandalism and damage at the church. Jaffa police officers and forensic identification personnel arrived at the scene, began searches for the suspect, and conducted an examination and collection of evidence from the site. Inside the church, the officers noticed several statues that had been knocked to the floor and broken into pieces. Additionally, broken crosses were found on the chairs and on the floor after being detached from their places. With the investigation that was opened upon receiving the complaint, Jaffa police officers managed to identify the suspect, who was arrested a short time ago. He was transferred for police questioning.