Vandalism Suspect Arrested After Repeated Defacement of Islamic Prayer Sign

German police have apprehended a 23-year-old man in Penzberg for the repeated vandalism of a sign designating the location for Islamic Friday prayers. The suspect was caught by two police patrols late at night as he was spraying the sign with paint. He was apprehended after attempting to flee on an electric bicycle.

The sign, which marks the site of the Islamic community's Friday prayers, had been repeatedly defaced with paint over several weeks. The most recent incident occurred just last week, leading to the seizure of the last three undamaged signs by police. Despite previous occurrences, no suspect had been identified until this recent arrest.

Penzberg's decision to erect the sign, alongside those for Catholic and Protestant services, is reportedly the first of its kind in Germany. Imam Benjamin Idriz of the Penzberg community stated this uniqueness. The community has reported receiving numerous threats and hate messages related to the project, but also expressed receiving messages of solidarity.

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The sign was sprayed with paint.