WASHINGTON — An unknown man was caught on video trespassing the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception's garden and damaging the sacred Our Lady of Fatima statue, according to a statement from the church.
The destruction of property incident happened on Sunday night, according to D.C. Police.
Basilica security notified officials at the church on Monday that security camera footage caught a man entering the locked Rosary Walk and Garden on the property to deface their statue of "Blessed Virgin Mary."
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception told WUSA9 that the man cut off the hands of the Blessed Mother and attacked her face with a hammer. They said the man ran off with her hands.
"We have contacted authorities and, though we are deeply pained by this incident, we pray for the perpetrator through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title of Our Lady of Fatima," the Director of Communications Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception said in a statement.
In the video released by D.C. police, you see the man pacing, staring at the statue and climbing up the figure with a hammer. The man repeatedly uses the hammer and hits the statue's face over 10 times before hopping off and leaving the scene.
Here's a look at the video:
The identity of the man is unknown at this time. The person's description has not been released.
D.C. Police are asking anyone who may know the man seen in the video or anyone with additional information regarding this incident to call them at 202-727-9099 or text 50411.