Minors set altar on fire in Austria
Two juveniles, one being a 12-year-old boy, ignited a fire within the Church of Our Lady in Feldkirch, resulting in significant damage.
After rifling through unlocked donation boxes for money, they proceeded to set ablaze the cloth adorning the rear altar, putting liturgical items at risk.
Authorities in the Vorarlberg region reported that the ensuing blaze extended to the carpeted floor and the underlying wooden framework. Precious artefacts and relics housed on the altar, potentially irretrievable, were threatened by the fire.
Firefighters promptly intervened, extinguishing the flames and ventilating the premises. The estimated property damage exceeds 21,000 USD.
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