Video circulating online appears to show someone attacking a sign outside a Catholic church in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
The individual, dressed entirely in black and wearing a long, flowing garment, was seen striking the sign at St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church with what appeared to be a baseball bat. The church is located roughly 17 miles north of Minneapolis.
After hitting the sign, the person was heard making an expletive-laden remark before running from the area.
The footage was uploaded to social media on Sunday evening, though it remains unclear when the incident actually occurred. Authorities have not confirmed whether anyone has been arrested.
Our News Outlet reached out to the Brooklyn Park Police Department, St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and the mayor’s office for comment.
The apparent church vandalism quickly drew strong reactions online, with users expressing anger over the damage at St Vincent de Paul.
“If that was a white kid smashing a mosque sign, this town would be burning to the ground,” one user wrote on X.
Another commenter wrote, “Putting their footprint down. Minnesota is cooked unless there is a reset.”
A person in black clothing and a long, flowing garment was filmed striking the sign outside St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Brooklyn Park
The person made an expletive-laden comment after damaging the sign and then appeared to flee the scene
The video of the reported church vandalism prompted a wave of outrage on social media
“Now that’s what I call a hate crime,” a third user commented, though authorities have not publicly classified the incident that way.
“When is enough, enough? We need to stop nansing around this and fricken stand up to this Evil!” a fourth person wrote.
“What special people hate churches, I wonder? Seems to be happening all over,” another commenter added.
The video emerged as Minneapolis police announced the arrests of seven people accused of breaking into the Basilica of St Mary early Saturday morning.
A security monitoring company alerted police to the suspected burglary shortly before 1 a.m. The basilica is currently closed while undergoing a renovation project costing millions of dollars.
The suspects—three adults and four juveniles—face several allegations, including business burglary, trespassing and fleeing officers on foot.
Father Ralph Talbot, pastor and rector of the Basilica of Saint Mary, said church officials are assisting investigators with the case.
“Early Saturday morning, The Basilica security system detected unauthorized persons inside The Basilica,” he told Fox 9.
The reported vandalism follows the Minneapolis Police Department’s arrest of seven people accused of burglarizing the Basilica of St Mary early Saturday morning
‘Officers of the Minneapolis Police Department responded and, with assistance from our security team, located and arrested seven individuals for burglary.
‘We will cooperate in the prosecution of these individuals. I am grateful to those involved in resolving the situation and to members of the community who have expressed their concern about this incident.’
The three adults, who have not been identified, were booked into Hennepin County Jail, and the four minors were processed by the juvenile unit, then released, according to police. The juvenile unit is leading the investigation.
It is unclear if the attacks on the Basilica of St Mary and St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church are connected.
Our News Outlet contacted the Minneapolis Police Department and the Basilica of St Mary for comment.
