Police investigate cemetery desecration in Oulu
Hundreds of tombstones knocked over early Saturday morning
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Police in the northern city of Oulu were busy on Sunday trying to find the perpetrators of a mass desecration of the Intiö cemetery in the centre of the city. About 500 tombstones were knocked over in the graveyard in the early hours of Saturday. Lanterns and ornaments were also destroyed by the vandals.
Hundreds of residents of Oulu flocked to the cemetery during the day to see if the graves of their next-of-kin were among those that had been vandalised. Employees of the Lutheran Parish that runs the cemetery managed to raise most of the toppled stones on Saturday. The heavier ones will require lifting equipment, which was not available during the weekend.
Matti Pennanen, Dean of Oulu Cathedral, said that security would be upgraded.
"At least in the autumn period we will increase supervision. November seems to be the most popular time for this kind of vandalism, and the simple knowledge that the area is being monitored would serve as a deterrence."
Pennanen said that a year ago in November, the office of the Archbishop warned Oulu congregations about an impending national gathering of Satan worshippers.
"At that time security measures were implemented at cemeteries, and nothing happened. Now we did not get any advance warning, but I just heard that there would have been a meeting of Satan worshippers here last night. On the other hand, no evidence to this effect have been left", Pennanen says.
Erik Kärkkäinen of the Oulu Police says that on the basis of initial information, there was no indication of Satanic ritual, and that the desecration seemed to be an act of pure vandalism. "There was no dead animal left there, which is a typical sign of Satan worship."
He noted that the forces of nature are on the side of the vandals, because at this time of the year it is dark most of the time in Oulu.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 28.11.2005 - TODAY |
 Police investigate cemetery desecration in Oulu
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