Vandals hit 2 more French cemeteries, overturn crucifixes

Israeli ambassador to France Yossi Gal stands near desecrated tombstones during a ceremony at the Sarre-Union Jewish cemetery, eastern France, Tuesday Feb. 17, 2015. Hollande spoke Tuesday in Sarre-Union, where 250 Jewish graves were desecrated over the weekend. Hollande noted anti-Semitism and acts against Muslims are both on the rise in France, notably after the attacks last month in Paris that left 20 people dead, including the three gunmen. The president called on French Jews to remain in France and not follow the Israeli prime minister's call for a mass immigration of European Jews. (AP Photo/Vincent Kessler/Pool) Israeli ambassador to France Yossi Gal stands near desecrated tombstones during a ceremony at the Sarre-Union Jewish cemetery, eastern France, Tuesday Feb. 17, 2015. Hollande spoke Tuesday in Sarre-Union, where 250 Jewish graves were desecrated over the weekend. Hollande noted anti-Semitism and acts against Muslims are both on the rise in France, notably after the attacks last month in Paris that left 20 people dead, including the three gunmen. The president called on French Jews to remain in France and not follow the Israeli prime minister's call for a mass immigration of European Jews. (AP Photo/Vincent Kessler/Pool)

By Associated Press February 18, 2015 1 min read

PARIS (AP) – Dozens of gravesites have been vandalized in a two small-town graveyards in France, a discovery that came the same day five teens faced preliminary charges in massive destruction at a Jewish cemetery in eastern France.

France’s Interior Ministry said crucifixes were overturned and gravesites disturbed in Tracy-sur-Mer, a tiny town next to the D-Day landing beaches, and in Saint-Beat, in southwest France. Swastikas were found in two other widely separated towns, the ministry said Wednesday.

The discoveries came after 250 Jewish graves were desecrated last weekend in the eastern French town of Sarre-Union.

Five local teens faced preliminary charges in the Sarre-Union vandalism. The prosecutor, Philippe Vannier, said the “anti-Semitic motive” was clear and that they all admitted participation.

There have been no arrests in the other cases.