Nativity scene depicts gang and police violence

Traditionally Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus feature prominently in Christmas Nativity scenes.

But at one Nativity creche this year, the subjects are drawn instead from recent real-life events: gang violence, a police purge and the deaths of Osama bin Laden and Muammar Gaddafi.

The scene, measuring 1,075 square feet, is the work of former Honduran foreign minister and architect, Fernando Martinez, reports AFP.

"I always try to improve on the design with moral and Christian principles to remember the birth of our lord Jesus Christ," Martinez said.

Martinez built his first Nativity scene as a boy with his mother, and since 1985 has been making large scale scenes about current themes.

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