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Tagger attacks famed Crystal Cathedral   Send a link to a friend

[September 26, 2007]  GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (AP) -- A graffiti tagger struck the landmark Crystal Cathedral shortly after the church held a community festival, doing tens of thousands of dollars in damage, a church spokesman said Tuesday.

The tagger struck around 8:30 p.m. Saturday and damaged the base of the famous glass spire and other buildings at the church, said Ben Rhodes, a cathedral spokesman.

Church officials later determined that the tagger, who appeared to be in his early 20s, etched the symbol "B1R" into 11 spots. Repairs will cost at least $38,000, Rhodes said.

Security cameras recorded the tagger, but police have not identified any suspects, he said.

"We don't have any indication of what his motivation might have been or if it's connected with anything," Rhodes said.

Police do not believe the crime is gang-related, Lt. Travis Whitman said in a statement.

The soaring glass cathedral was built by the Rev. Robert H. Schuller, who moved to then-rural Orange County in 1955 with his wife and began preaching at a drive-in movie theater.

The cathedral's weekly service is televised and beamed to millions around the world as the "Hour of Power."

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On the Net:

Crystal Cathedral: http://www.crystalcathedral.org/

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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