The cemetery of Alhos Vedros, in the municipality of Moita, Setúbal, has been targeted by vandals, with authorities suspecting the desecration of human remains after several graves were found opened and bodies mutilated. At least ten corpses have been transferred to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine for examination and evidence-gathering to determine whether they were indeed subjected to desecration..
The suspected desecration is believed to have taken place over the weekend, with the alert raised on Monday. The GNR confirmed that four mausoleums had been broken into. The bodies buried inside the vandalised tombs were examined by a forensic specialist from the Institute of Forensic Medicine, and subsequently taken to the morgue for further analysis.
The Bishop of Setúbal, Cardinal Américo Aguiar, issued a statement expressing his sorrow over the events. “It was with deep sadness and feelings of emotion, helplessness, and genuine dismay that I received the news of the desecration of graves at Alhos Vedros cemetery. I visited the site and prayed. An act of such gravity strikes at the intrinsic dignity of the human person, wounds the memory of those who have departed, and inflicts further suffering on their families.”
According to an official source from the GNR, no arrests have yet been made in connection with the case.
Source: JN
