Libyan Mob Desecrates Christian and Jewish WWII Tombstones Apparently Over Koran Burning

In the eyes of radical Islamists, it seems attacking the living was not sufficient retaliation for U.S. troops inadvertently burning copies of the Koran in Afghanistan. Now, protesters in Libya have released their wrath on the dead.

A group of Libyan men - apparently angry at the Afghanistan incident - desecrated the graves of British World War II fighters in a cemetery near Benghazi, Libya. During the Second World War, British Commonwealth forces fought Italian Axis forces in this theater for control of Libya and Egypt. In the video below, one can see the Libyans destroying tombstones, while a ladder is erected which a man climbs and begins hammering a large cross overlooking the cemetery.

According to Ynet, one of the men says, “Come see, there's Israeli writing, Hebrew, on the tombstone.”

Al Jazeera reports that one man can be heard saying in Arabic: "This is a grave of a Christian," as he uproots a headstone. Others repeatedly say, "They are dogs, they are dogs."

Britain’s Daily Mail is calling the ransacking an “insult to WWII heroes." The paper points out the irony considering Britain’s key role in aiding Libyan rebels just one year ago:

A year ago they begged for Britain’s help when Colonel Gaddafi’s tanks encircled their city, threatening annihilation.

Now former Libyan rebels in Benghazi – liberated with the aid of the RAF last March – have systematically desecrated the graves of more than 150 British servicemen killed in North Africa 70 years ago.

Headstones at the Benghazi War Cemetery have been torn down and crucifixes smashed with hammers by a mob of extremists, some carrying guns and dressed in combat fatigues.

More than 1,000 military personnel are buried at the Libyan site, according to the British publication:

Graves of RAF pilots were among those shattered by the thugs. It was their job to fly bombing raids – just as the RAF did last year – to assist Lieutenant General Montgomery’s Eighth Army and support commandos clearing routes for tanks.

Sickeningly, the attack, which was carried out over two days last week and appeared highly organised, was filmed by one of the men involved and posted on the internet.

Ynet reports Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) condemned the cemetery desecration:

The Council also expressed deep regret over what happened and sharply criticized the actions which they say were not compatible with Islamic values. The council also promised to act to put a stop to the phenomenon and bring the perpetrators to trial in accordance with Libyan law which sees the tombstone desecration as a criminal act.

The NTC also made it clear that the actions did not reflect on the local or official public opinion in Libya as they are in contrast to Islamic morals which stand for respecting all religions and faiths. The Libyan interior ministry added that it will launch an investigation and would apprehend and prosecute those responsible.

The incident occurred one day after President Obama conveyed an apology to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, an act that apparently had no effect on the Libyan vandals.

Watch the video posted on YouTube: