Almost 50 Christian statues in Coesfeld, a small borough of North Rhine-Westphalia, have been vandalised. Police assume the wave of attacks in the area are motivated by religious ideology.

Local newspaper the Westfälischen Nachrichten reported that “not a day goes by” without attacks on religious statues in Dülmen, a town of less than 50,000 people, and the immediate surrounding area. It is estimated that damage done to the works is in the region of six figures.

In late October and early November the noses and fingers were smashed off numerous statues, while several figures have had their heads beaten off entirely. Local residents were dismayed after the head of a statue of St Francis, which had stood in front of the Clara-Stift nursing home, was found in a nearby bush with its facial features bashed in. The latest attack was on a Jesus statue in Havixbeck.

Günther Fehmer, who oversees Dülmen’s finances, said the town’s Catholic communities are devastated by the destruction. “We’re all very concerned by what is happening, and we’re also angry”, he said.