Mossos are Investigating Vandalism and Profanation of Tombs in Girona's Old Cemetery

The Mossos d’Esquadra are currently conducting a thorough investigation into a disturbing series of events that unfolded overnight between Sunday and Monday at the Cementerio Viejo (Old Cemetery) in Girona. According to Eduard Adrobau, Director of Territorial Services of the Interior, twenty-two tombs have been affected, with damages ranging from simple defacement to outright profanation. The cemetery, strategically located on the Sant Feliu road, is currently closed to the public and under the watchful eye of the Policía Municipal, as reported by Sílvia Aliu, the city's Security Councilor.

Discovery and Initial Findings

The unsettling discovery was made by municipal brigade employees as they prepared to open the cemetery for the day. These workers promptly alerted both the Policía Municipal and the Mossos d’Esquadra. The absence of surveillance cameras within the cemetery, coupled with the fact that no doors were forced, suggests that the perpetrators gained access through a less conventional route, likely entering through a side of the facility.

Investigation Underway

“The acts of vandalism detected are dispersed, without an apparent order,” stated the Director of Interior in Girona. Initial assessments are leaning towards linking the incidents to common delinquency, as no specific family or group appears to have been targeted. The crime scene is now under the scrutiny of forensic and investigative teams from the Girona police station. They are carrying out a meticulous Inspección Oculta Técnico Policial (IOTP) to unearth any clues or evidence that might lead to the identification of those responsible. According to Adrobau, investigators are actively searching for “footprints and biological remains of the perpetrators.”

Family Notification and Extent of Damage

In the coming hours, the Mossos are planning to contact the families who own the vandalized tombs. Preliminary reports indicate that about a dozen tombs were profaned, with their contents scattered outside. The remaining tombs suffered damage to their headstones or were displaced from their original positions. “It’s an absolutely random pattern, they are not related families, therefore the lines of investigation are based on vandalism or linked to common crime,” Adrobau explained.

Excluding Links to Recent Unrest

The director has emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and, “at this time, it is not linked to the events that have occurred in the Font de la Pólvora neighborhood,” referring to a recent eviction and a double homicide that took place months ago. The previous Saturday saw an attempted occupation of an apartment on Hortensia Street in Font de la Pólvora, the same apartment from which the tenants had recently been evicted. While neither the City Council nor the Mossos can confirm if the attempted occupation was carried out by the evicted family or others, the situation escalated when a group of approximately 30 to 50 people gathered, setting fire to a container and street materials, and throwing stones and objects at the Mossos and firefighters, leading to the deployment of riot police. Later that night, the Centro Cívico Onyar was also vandalized, and three more containers were set ablaze in the same area.

Quoting Authorities

According to “Marta Rodríguez” (n.d.) from *El País*, the Mossos d’Esquadra are committed to finding those responsible for the desecration. Furthermore, *Ediciones EL PAÍS S.L.* (1976) assures the public that every effort is being made to restore the cemetery and bring the culprits to justice.

The Investigation Continues

The investigation remains open, with authorities diligently pursuing all possible leads. The community of Girona is left grappling with the shock and sadness caused by these disrespectful acts, while authorities continue to work to ensure the safety and dignity of this historical burial ground.

References

Rodríguez, M. (n.d.). *Los Mossos investigan actos vandálicos en veintidós tumbas del cementerio viejo de Girona*. El País. Retrieved from https://elpais.com/espana/catalunya/2025-03-24/los-mossos-investigan-actos-vandálicos-en-veintidos-tumbas-del-cementerio-viejo-de-girona.html

Ediciones EL PAÍS S.L. (1976). *El País*.