HANAU, Germany (AP) — Police in Germany said Thursday they were investigating the appearance of swastikas painted with human blood and smeared on dozens of cars, some mailboxes and building facades in the central town of Hanau.

Police spokesman Thomas Leipold said officers were alerted Wednesday night when a man reported that he noticed the shape of a swastika applied in a reddish liquid on the hood of a parked car.

A special test quickly revealed that the substance was human blood.

Police said that in total, almost 50 cars had been defaced in a similar way.

“The background is completely unclear,” Leipold said, adding that investigators did not know if specific cars, mailboxes and buildings were targeted or if the swastikas were applied randomly. He said that there were also several ot

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