Jewish Graves Vandalized at Barcelona Cemetery, Investigation Launched

Jewish graves were vandalized at the Jewish section of the Les Corts cemetery in Barcelona over the weekend, prompting an official investigation and strong condemnations from municipal leaders, the Jewish community, and Israeli officials. The damage was discovered on Saturday, according to local authorities and community representatives.

The Les Corts site is one of Barcelona’s Jewish burial areas, and the incident has heightened concern over the protection of Jewish heritage sites due to broader fears of rising antisemitism across Europe. City officials said the vandalism targeted several graves, though no official number has been released, and emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing.

Barcelona’s municipal authorities said they are cooperating closely with law enforcement to identify those responsible. City services are reviewing available security footage and other monitoring systems installed in the area. In addition, the municipality said it is coordinating with the Hate Crimes and Discrimination Unit of the Barcelona Prosecutor’s Office as part of the investigative process.

As a precautionary measure, the Jewish sections of three cemeteries, Les Corts, Sant Andreu, and Collserola, were temporarily closed to the public until Monday. Officials said the closures are intended to protect the sites and allow for restoration work to be carried out safely while the investigation advances.

Barcelona City Council condemned the vandalism in strong language, describing it as “intolerable, an attack on the dignity of the deceased, the respect owed to places of mourning, and coexistence.” The council said it remains in contact with representatives of the Jewish community and local rabbinical authorities to coordinate restoration efforts at the damaged graves.

Mayor Jaume Collboni also issued a public condemnation, stressing that “There is no place for hatred in a pluralistic and respectful Barcelona,” adding that municipal authorities are committed to identifying those responsible and ensuring accountability.

The Jewish Community of Barcelona said it was informed of the incident on Saturday and is working with city officials to address the damage and strengthen protections. “Today we were informed of acts of vandalism against graves in the Jewish section of Les Corts Cemetery,” the community said in a statement, expressing confidence that authorities would act with the necessary diligence.

Israel’s ambassador to Spain, Dana Erlich, warned that the incident reflects a broader and increasingly visible pattern of antisemitism in the country. “Spain is not an antisemitic country, but there are worrying and increasingly visible manifestations: vandalism, attacks on Israelis, fear of speaking Hebrew in public or going out with Jewish symbols,” Erlich said. She added, “Organizations like Samidoun, considered terrorist in other countries, operate freely spreading hate and denying the existence of Israel. That is clear antisemitism, and Spain should take firm measures to combat it.”

Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued an even sharper response, directly criticizing Spain’s political leadership. “We condemn the vandalism of the Jewish cemetery in Barcelona. This despicable act is a result of the anti-Israel campaign by the Sánchez goverment. We stand with Spain's Jewish community. Antisemitism must never be normalized and must be firmly rejected in all societies,” the ministry said.

Authorities said restoration work at the damaged graves is expected to proceed alongside the investigation, with cemetery sections reopening once security assessments are completed. The police probe into the vandalism remains ongoing.