Two men wreaked havoc on a traditional living nativity scene in Erbach near Frankfurt late Saturday night, brutally beating the two donkeys “Lily” and “Max,” destroying decorations and defecating inside the church.
According to police and eyewitnesses, the pair first punched and kicked the tethered animals, then ripped down Christmas lights, smashed electrical distribution boxes and overturned market stalls set up for the Advent event.
They went on to ransack the church toilets, smearing feces on walls and fixtures. The donkeys, on loan from a local petting zoo for the annual Christmas display, suffered bruising and shock but no life-threatening injuries, veterinarians confirmed Sunday.
Event organizers estimate damage at several thousand euros. Both suspects, residents of the Odenwald district, were arrested at the scene.
They remain in custody facing charges of animal cruelty, property damage and disturbance of religious practice. The incident was first reported by Hessenschau, Bild Zeitung and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
European Christmas markets, cherished symbols of holiday cheer, have faced escalating threats of terrorism, vandalism and disruptions over the past two years, prompting fortified security and scattered closures amid public unease.
In 2023, German authorities thwarted multiple plots, including a vehicle-borne explosive attack in Leverkusen by radicalized teens and a Cologne Cathedral scouting mission by a Tajik suspect, while heightened Hamas sympathies fuelled EU-wide alerts.
The 2024 Magdeburg car ramming by a Saudi national killed six and injured over 300, reigniting fears and leading to a 44% spike in security costs. By 2025, trials for the assailant underscore ongoing investigations.
Vandalism has intensified, with nativity scenes repeatedly targeted: Erbach donkeys beaten, Brussels figures stolen, and Amiens displays defaced in anti-Christian acts.
Protests have caused minor disruptions, but terror threats dominate, forcing concrete barriers and patrols. Officials warn of ongoing lone-actor risks.