Swastikas made with scraps of metal were discovered in the Jewish section of a cemetery in Avignon, south-eastern France, earlier this week.

Visitors reported the incident. A complaint was filed by the head of a regiona Jewish association.

Some swastikas were painted in red, some were between two graves, others at the foot of the graves. A Star of David painted in yellow and surrounded by a swastika was also found on the site.

The prosecutor has opened "an investigation for desecration of graves."

According to the prosecutor in Avignon, Bernard Marchal, the graves themselves were not desecrated.

This is not the first time that the Jewish section of this cemetery is targeted.

In April 2005, anti-Semitic graffiti were found on information billboards. In November 2012, two plates were broken at the entrance. The vandals were never identified.