GRAVES and monuments to fallen British servicemen were smashed in a mindless rampage by Islamic militants.
The graves of children were also targeted as the al-Qaeda thugs left a trail of destruction in the former British colony of Aden, Yemen.
Graves and monuments to fallen British servicemen smashed up in mindless rampage
Shattered headstone after attack at the Hafoon Cemetery in Maala
Twelve al-Qaeda thugs left a trail of destruction in Yemen
The rampage in the port city of Aden took place in December 2015, but nothing has been done to repair the damage
The attack at the Hafoon Cemetery in Maala was launched by 12 balaclava-clad, gun-toting extremists who used sledgehammers and crowbars to destroy 1,927 graves.
St Joseph Church, which overlooks the graveyard, was also set on fire and ransacked.
The rampage in the port city of Aden took place on December 12, 2015 but, 18 months on, nothing has been done to repair the damage.
Nearly 2,000 graves and monuments to war heroes and children were smashed up with crowbars and sledgehammers
Rampage on the tragic site took place as civil war raged in the region in Yemen
Australian peace negotiator Dominic Ryan took these dramatic pictures in Yemen
Knocked over headstone to British war hero who died in conflict overseas
The balaclava-clad, gun-toting extremists destroyed nearly 2,000 graves
It took place as civil war raged, allowing al-Qaeda and ISIS factions to launch strikes amid the chaos.
The graves include those of military personnel who served with Britain’s forces in the colony from 1839 to 1967.
The graves included those of military personnel who served in the colony from 1839 to 1967
Commonwealth War Graves Commission have been unable to repair damage to the monuments
ISIS and al-Qaeda thugs launched strikes on monuments during the chaos in Yemen
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Dominic Ryan, 46, hopes the pictures will encourage a restoration project
Dramatic pictures show the aftermath of the mindless attack in a graveyard
Sledgehammers and crowbars were used to destroy the monuments
Our images of the destruction were taken by Australian peace negotiator Dominic Ryan, 46.
He said: “I would hope that these pictures might initiate a response to get people to come here and restore the cemetery.”
St Joseph Church was also set on fire and ransacked
Inside the church after Islamic thugs ransack graveyard with guns and other dangerous weapons
Aerial footage of the devastation in Yemen
Tory MP Johnny Mercer slams militants after attack on the graveyard
Painstaking work needs to be done to repair the damage in the graveyard
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission said it was unable to get in and repair the damage because of the ongoing turmoil in Yemen.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer said: “The people who did it will never know the sort of qualities and principles that those men fought for and died for.”
'An insult to us all'
ONE of the desecrated graves is that of Royal Navy Reserve Francis Fantham, who died at just 22 in June 1940.
The granite headstone, with an engraved naval anchor and a cross, lies smashed amid the rubble.
It shows that the Ordinary Seaman, who died from an unspecified illness, served on HMS Carlisle.
His nephew, Derek Forrester, 68, of Swanley, Kent, said: “It’s an appalling act of vandalism and shows complete disregard for all those buried there.”
