Man in robes filmed smashing sign outside Minneapolis Catholic church
Footage posted on social media shows a person striking a sign outside St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, with a bat. The incident has drawn angry reactions online, though the recording date and any police response to the damage are unknown.
The church is about 17 miles north of Minneapolis. Separately, Minneapolis police arrested seven people, including four minors, after an alleged break-in at the Basilica of St Mary early on Saturday; the church is undergoing a major renovation. Police have not said whether the two incidents are connected.
In short
- Video shows a person damaging a Minnesota church sign with a bat.
- The recording date and any arrests over the damage are unknown.
- Seven people were arrested in a separate alleged church burglary.
Explained simply
St Vincent de Paul is a Catholic parish in Brooklyn Park, a suburb north of Minneapolis. Catholic churches are part of a worldwide Christian church led by the Pope, and local parishes serve worshippers in their communities.
The Basilica of St Mary is a separate Catholic church in Minneapolis, currently undergoing major renovation. The two churches are distinct, and police have not said that the reported damage outside St Vincent de Paul is linked to the alleged break-in at the Basilica.