Gruesome mural with dead rats hung inside drawn pentagram found in central Amsterdam

A disturbing mural featuring a “gruesome detail” was discovered Thursday on the Hoogte Kadijk in central Amsterdam, authorities reported Friday. The Animal Police Amsterdam reported on Instagram that five dead rats had been placed around the "artwork."

An onlooker found the scene, prompting the Animal Police to post an image on Instagram showing the rats positioned at the points of an inverted pentagram painted on the wall. The rats were hung upside down.

The five-pointed star, or pentagram, is an ancient symbol that has been used for thousands of years in different cultures and religions, representing concepts ranging from balance to the elements of nature. An inverted pentagram, with a single point facing downward, is sometimes associated with satanism.

“We have no idea what meaning or ritual this could represent,” the Animal Police said. They added that no security camera footage is available and are seeking information from the public. “If you have any information or have seen who created this and hung the animals, we would like to hear from you.”