Grave of Far-Right French Leader Jean-Marie Le Pen Vandalized

The tomb of the controversial National Front founder was heavily damaged with a sledgehammer, prompting condemnation and heightened security measures.

Jean-Marie Le Pen's grave in Brittany was vandalized less than three weeks after his burial, with significant damage caused by a sledgehammer.
The family tomb, shared with other relatives, had its stone cross destroyed, and rubble and damaged flowers were left scattered around the site.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and far-right political figures condemned the act, calling it barbaric and unspeakable.
Police had initially increased security at the cemetery due to the political sensitivity of Le Pen's burial but scaled back patrols before the vandalism occurred.
Le Pen, a polarizing figure known for Holocaust denial and anti-immigration rhetoric, left a controversial legacy that continues to evoke strong reactions.