Lithuanian Police Investigate Destruction of Sacred Statue in Vilnius

OPA WIRE, Nov 14 (OPA) — Vilnius police opened a formal investigation under Article 284 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Lithuania following the incident, which occurred late on November 11. Surveillance footage published online shows two men laughing on Dominikonų Street in the capital's old town as one hauls the golden figure from its display. The suspect, who appears intoxicated, holds the statue by its arms before snapping them off and sending the figure crashing to the ground.

The culprit is heard exclaiming 'Oh my God' before fleeing the scene alongside his companion. Shortly afterward, a passing vehicle ran over the scattered fragments of the broken sculpture. Church authorities and investigators have not yet confirmed the nationalities of the suspects, though initial reports suggest they are British tourists. Police stated that the total financial damage is currently being assessed.

The statue was stolen from the inner courtyard near the Shrine of Divine Mercy Church, a prominent site in the Lithuanian capital that also houses the famed 1934 Divine Mercy painting. Father Elijas Anatolijus Markauskas, the church's priest, voiced deep anguish over the desecration in a social media appeal aimed at identifying the suspects. He noted that the statue held profound religious significance for the congregation beyond its physical value.

Local parishioners have since placed flowers and the remaining fragments of the sculpture at the foot of the wooden cross where it was originally mounted. Police continue to review local CCTV footage to identify the individuals involved as the pre-trial investigation proceeds. Authorities have urged anyone with information regarding the suspects to come forward.