Photo shows a statue and the offering box at the St. George Church in Jiyyeh. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Unknown individuals damaged small statues in the St. George Church in Jiyyeh, south of Beirut, on Sunday night, the state-run National News Agency reported Monday, adding that it is believed the perpetrators' intention upon entering the building was "to steal the [money from the] offerings box.”
The security forces arrived at the scene and initiated an investigation, the NNA report added.
The municipality of Jiyyeh condemned, in a statement Monday, the attack on the church and stated that the citizens of the town "are keen on preserving unity, coexistence, and diversity."
The statement emphasized the "importance and necessity of collaboration among all parties and working together to enhance civil peace, rejecting all forms of sectarian and religious strife."
The head of the Jiyyeh municipality, Wissam al-Hajj, visited the church Sunday night and condemned the incident and urged "the security forces to expedite the identification of the perpetrators who seek to destabilize the town's harmony," according to the statement from the municipality.
In April, 10 suspects were arrested by Lebanon's Internal Security Forces (ISF) for the theft, destruction and concealment of a church bell in the Metn area.
The previous month, a Maronite cemetery was vandalized in Saida, with several graves ransacked. Minors were later arrested in relation to this incident. Meanwhile, in January, a church was damaged in Jbeil.