Denmark: Second Muslim cemetery desecrated in space of three months

Police in Denmark are investigating after a second Muslim cemetery was destroyed in the country in space of months. Funen Police reported up to 60 tombstones were vandalised at a graveyard in the Korsløkke Kirkegård area of Odense.

The incident occurred less than three months after another Muslim cemetery was vandalised in the Copenhagen suburb of Brøndby. On both occasions, police said they were not sure if the cemeteries were targeted to attack the Muslim community or not.

"Whether it is racially motivated or a prank, it would just be speculation to say anything at this point," Hans Frederiksen told public broadcaster DR, reported The Local.

Denmark's prime minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, condemned the vandalism in a statement released via Facebook.

He said: "In June, there was vandalism at the Muslim cemetery in Brøndby. Today [2 September] it has been discovered that someone has smashed 50 graves at the Muslim cemetery in Odense. It makes me angry! We don't know the perpetrator's motives – pure stupidity, religious fanaticism or a totally misunderstood political signal – but no matter what, it is simply repulsive and should be condemned."

The incident occurred two weeks after a man was arrested on suspicion of allegedly attempting to set fire to an Islamic centre in Copenhagen's Nordvest district.