An investigation opened after the discovery of swastikas and homophobic tags on a war memorial in Escautpont

The municipality denounced a “despicable” and “abominable” act and announced its intention to file a complaint.

An investigation into the charge of “deterioration of public utility assets” was opened after the discovery of swastikas and homophobic inscriptions on the Escautpont war memorial (North), franceinfo and France Bleu Nord learned on Wednesday May 8 from the Valenciennes public prosecutor’s office. For now, “no arrests were made”according to this same source.

These inscriptions were discovered early Wednesday, the May 8 commemoration day. In an email addressed to France Bleu Nord, the municipality denounced an act “abject” And “abominable” and announced his intention to file a complaint. “I think it was really aimed at me.”, Raphaël Kruszynski, the mayor of Escautpont, told France Bleu Nord. “I am in a relationship with a man. I was first assistant, it was already starting: I was made to understand that in a village like Escaupont it was going to be hard as a gay man to make a career”, says the chosen one. But “I don’t want to have a career if it means being mayor of a homophobic village“, he adds.

A “alone” and “hooded” person

“Of course it hurts.”, confides Raphaël Kruszynski. However, he prefers “call for appeasement” and does not want “don’t respond to that with anger”. The mayor explains to France Bleu Nord that he has been heavily criticized for having renovated and especially moved the war memorial – inaugurated this Wednesday – from the town hall square to the Jean Ferrat cemetery. “I think we wanted to take revenge for the result. It’s a project that didn’t please everyone. There were petitions, etc.”

According to the mayor, video surveillance cameras filmed the scene. The images show a person “alone” And “hooded”. The councilor has “trust” And “think the police will find the perpetrator” of these anti-Semitic and homophobic inscriptions.

They were cleaned before the May 8 commemorations by municipal teams. The ceremony was able to take place. According to France Bleu Nord, between 200 to 300 people were present, including the deputy and national secretary of the PCF, Fabien Roussel. In a statement, the communist deputy from the North said “share anger and emotion”elected officials, veterans’ associations and more generally the population “faced with this new defilement”.