Austrian Franciscan monks in Salzburg will cease feeding the poor after a number of violent incidents from foreign migrants.
The food service for the poor ended officially following an incident on Sunday in which four Romanian migrant beggars started fighting with each other in front of the Franciscan church, with monk Father Oliver also being physically attacked, as well, Kronen Zeitungreports.
“I was personally attacked, kicked, and hit on the head,” Father Oliver said.
Churchgoers said they felt threatened by the primarily Romanian gangs of beggars who frequented the churches for food. “I recently accompanied an elderly lady to her car because she was afraid of the beggars,” Brother Bedia, another monk, said.