Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Naked group slaughters sheep at Auschwitz death camp

Their motive is unclear

Friday 24 March 2017 22:27 EDT
Comments
The entrance to the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau with the lettering 'Arbeit macht frei' 'Work makes you free' in Oswiecim, Poland
The entrance to the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau with the lettering 'Arbeit macht frei' 'Work makes you free' in Oswiecim, Poland (Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A group of 11 people took off their clothes, killed a sheep and chained themselves together by the main gate of the former Nazi death camp of Auschwitz, before being detained by police, officials have said.

A spokesman for the Auschwitz memorial, Bartosz Bartyzel, said their motives were not clear as they briefly stood and then sat down by the notorious Arbeit Macht Frei (“Work sets you free”) gate in the southern Polish city of Oswiecim.

Auschwitz inmates passed through the gate when they were taken into the camp and when led by armed Nazi guards to slave labour sites.

Mr Bartyzel said museum guards ordered the group to dress and called police. Visits to the site were temporarily suspended.

A statement from the Auschwitz memorial's authorities said that “using the symbols of Auschwitz for any manifestations or happenings is reprehensible and outrageous” and “hurts the memory of all victims” of Auschwitz.

A spokeswoman for the local police, Malgorzata Jurecka, said 11 young people - Poles, Belarusians and a German - were detained for questioning on allegations they insulted a memorial site. If convicted, they could face stiff fines.

During the Second World War, the Nazis killed 1.1 million people at Auschwitz, mostly Jews, but also Poles, Roma and Russian prisoners of war among others.

AP

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in