It was widely reported in both Greek and international media that vandals set fire on a Greek Orthodox church of Archangel Michael in Lagolio, Heraklion, burning holy icons and part of the chancel last Saturday. As if the fire was not enough, the perpetrators also defaced the walls with the phrase “Allah is great” in Arabic, thus causing an anti Muslim storm in social media where the news item was posted.
The police investigation has linked this incident to several other similar incidents in that area of Crete over the last three years, and another incident, at Tymbakia, involving an anti Christian leaflet signed “Muslim brotherhood of Crete” that the police now believe was a provocation to create anti migrant sentiment in the local community. The police are now investigating the possibility that the latest arson attack on a church was carried out by the same persons with the view to create anti migrant feelings.
Chania ERT, the state broadcaster, reports that there are a few questions over the Arab phrase, which, from an analysis of the flow of the spray paint, appears to have been written from left to right making it more likely that the incident was intended to incite religious hatred, somethin that it has managed to achieve judging from the dozens of messages on social media.
It has also been reported that the local police is in possession of genetic material from a suspect in a church arson attack two years ago but the suspect has not yet been identified.
