A statue of the Madonna at Marghera
near Venice had its head and hands lopped off overnight, police
aid Thursday.
A 31-year-old Palestinian has been arrested on charges of
defacing the statue after being caught on CCTV.
He has been charged with "offending a religious faith via
damaging property".
Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro issued a firm condemnation of a
"cowardly act, aimed at wounding our sensibilities".
The Palestinian is a regular immigrant with a refugee travel
document issued by Belgium, police said.
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