“110 Graves Looted and Vandalized in Lesquin Cemetery”

A sad discovery for the inhabitants of Lesquin. The cemetery of this small northern village was looted on the night of May 11 to 12, according to our colleagues from France Blue. A total of 110 graves were damaged. In detail, pewter, bronze and copper statuettes and ornaments were stolen. Some relatives of the deceased have seen a theft, like Cathy, interviewed by local radio.

“It’s the psychological and moral side that is really very difficult,” she says. “These are our loved ones, they are deceased, their grave is our place of meditation, and to see that someone has allowed themselves to desecrate it is not normal”. This northerner has lodged a complaint – as have other families affected by the incident – and hopes to see things move. Especially since this is not the first time that the Lesquin cemetery has been vandalized: several graves had already been looted in 2014 and 2022, according to France Bleu.

Towards enhanced surveillance?

The families regret that no camera was able to film the act of vandalism. Because if the cemetery usually has a surveillance camera, it has been removed to facilitate work. “We had to change a public lighting mast recently and we couldn’t put the camera back on it right away, admits Claudine Cottrant, first deputy mayor, to The voice of the North. The town hall is now considering placing a 360° camera inside the cemetery, she says.