Turkey: Four arrests for desecrating a Greek Cemetery in Istanbul · Global Voices

Four people were arrested by the authorities in Turkey for illegal excavation at St.Eleftherios cemetery of the Greek minority in Tatala region. It is recalled that on the morning of August 23, the cemetery officials in Tatala, Constantinople, observed that unknown individuals had dug the soil. They probably entered the fenced room of the cemetery, jumping off the wall. However, no ruins were found in graves, nor in the temple. In the area there are as guardian dogs and from the condition found by the officials it is estimated that the invaders gave the animals some narcotic or hypnotic substance to prevent them from reacting to their presence. The Istanbul Department of Public Security reports in an announcement that the illegal excavation took place at about 4:50 a.m., and was found to have been dug a six-meter pit. Police have traced the suspects to the suburb of Kyuchuk. Checkmetze to the west of Istanbul, from where they arrived in Tatala using two cars. In possession of suspects were found and 48 pages of documents were seized regarding locations and instructions to locate hidden treasures, a metal detector, six pieces of explosives used to break rocks, a sketch and an airgun.