Trudeau denounces church burnings, vandalism in Canada

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has denounced the burning and vandalism of Catholic churches that followed discovery of unmarked graves and former schools for Indigenous children.

Several Catholic churches have recently been vandalized or damaged in fires following the discovery of more than 1,100 unmarked graves at the sites of three former residential schools run by the church in British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

Generations of Indigenous children had been forced to attend the schools.

The nation also saw a series of attacks Thursday — Canada Day — on statues of Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and other historical figures.

EARLIER COVERAGE:

• Fires destroy 2 churches on Canadian Indigenous reserves
• Canadian Indigenous group says more graves found at new site
• More than 600 unmarked graves found at former school site in Saskatchewan
• Canada: Bodies at Indigenous school not isolated incident