Human remains found in sacks in crypt of old church near Zagreb; police investigate vandalism

A disturbing discovery was made at the old Church of St. Martin in Dugo Selo, near Zagreb, where human skeletal remains were found in sacks within the church's crypt. The incident came to light when Jasmin Hađajlić visited the church and noticed the unusual sacks. Upon closer inspection, he realized they contained bones and immediately asked the children who were entering and exiting the building to leave, stating, "Children, get out, this is not for you."

Hađajlić's discovery led to a police investigation and an official site inspection. The crypt, which had been archaeologically researched twice, most recently in 2018 under archaeologist Juraj Belaj, was found to have been broken into. Belaj explained that someone had forced entry into the locked sanctuary and accessed the crypt, which was designed for the ethical storage of skeletal remains, removing a portion of the bones.

“

When I went inside, I saw some strange sacks. I looked a little closer, and they were some kind of bones. I asked the children to leave, that this was not for them.

The Ministry of Culture confirmed that the Institute of Archaeology had found the remains in 2018. These bones, belonging to deceased individuals, were properly stored in a secured and locked crypt according to professional standards. The Ministry condemned the break-in as an act of vandalism. Police are continuing their investigation into the matter.

Local authorities in Dugo Selo were notified, and the site was secured. Discussions are planned between the City of Dugo Selo and the Church, which owns the land, to determine how to enhance the security of the crypt and the church building itself. Belaj estimates that the site contains thousands of graves, with some containing fragmented bones from different individuals and periods due to centuries of burial activity.

“

Someone broke into the sanctuary that was locked and entered the crypt that was built to store the skeletal remains in the most ethical way possible and removed part of the bones from that crypt.