Community Supports Annandale Church Targeted In Vandalisms

Interfaith leaders and the community is rallying around an Annandale church targeted by vandals numerous times in recent months.

The InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington will hold a Unite Against Hate event in support of Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Wednesday, July 25 at 7:20 p.m. Bethlehem Lutheran Church is located at 8922 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax. The faith community and other local residents are invited to join for prayer, hymns, video messages, and more to "share the message that love conquers hate."

The church had been hit with at least seven vandalisms from May to June. In the most recent case, detectives found racial and religious slurs written in graffiti. In the May 21 incident, a church member was assaulted with a fire extinguisher and went to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Other incidents involved the vandals smashing windows, damaging the church sanctuary and cutting sound system cords, Fox5DC reported. The vandalisms caused damages in the tens of thousands.

Police continue to look for the suspects responsible. Anyone with information should call the Mason District Station at 703-256-8035 or submit a tip online through Crime Solvers.

Image via Fairfax County Police