Masked man caught on camera smashing Virgin Mary statue with a hammer outside NYC church

The New York Police Department (NYPD) are investigating the demolition of a Virgin Mary statue extracurricular St. Rita Roman Catholic Church successful Long Island City arsenic a imaginable hatred transgression aft a antheral climbed implicit a obstruction and repeatedly smashed it down utilizing a hammer.

In surveillance video released by The Diocese of Brooklyn, the masked antheral is seen violently hitting the statue extracurricular the religion successful what Catholic officials accidental is the latest successful a drawstring of attacks targeting the parish.

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The Virgin Mary statue was vadalised extracurricular St. Rita Roman Catholic Church successful Long Island City (St. Rita’s Church)

In a property release, religion officials said it is the 4th reported vandalism incidental targeting the parish since 2024, with the New York City Police Department investigating the latest vandalism arsenic a imaginable hatred crime.

According to the Diocese of Brooklyn, the incidental happened astatine astir 1:42 a.m. connected Aug. 1.

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The Diocese said successful a statememt that the onslaught was the 4th vandalism incidental astatine St. Rita Roman Catholic Church since 2024. (St. Rita Roman Catholic Church)

The video shows the man, who is wearing a acheronian T-shirt and shorts, ascent implicit the obstruction into a courtyard wherever a statue of the Blessed Mother stood.

The fishy removes a hammer from his pouch and repeatedly strikes the statue earlier knocking it disconnected its pedestal. He past climbs backmost implicit the obstruction and walks away.

The Diocese said successful a connection that the onslaught was the 4th vandalism incidental astatine St. Rita Roman Catholic Church since 2024.

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Surveillance video released by the religion shows a masked man, successful a acheronian garment and shorts, jumping implicit a obstruction into a courtyard wherever a statue of the Blessed Mother stood. (St. Rita’s Church.)

Past acts of vandalism successful the parish see the demolition of a 60-year-old stained-glass model and graffiti that defaced a statue of St. Francis of Assisi and the sidewalk.

There was besides harm done to a statue of St. Jude wrong the church.

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The Diocese of Brooklyn told Fox News Digital that nary arrests person been made.

"This week, the NYPD besides issued a transgression stats update and hatred crimes are up by 9.4% implicit the aforesaid 7-month play (Jan-July) of past year," John Quaglione, Deputy Press Secretary for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn said.