Copenhagen  - Vandals have defaced the grave of Danish fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen with graffiti, officials said Wednesday.

The culprits, believed to be squatters, also vandalized 10 other graves in what officials called a "terrible and callous" attack on the Assistens Cemetery in central Copenhagen.

Andersen, who lived from 1805-1875, is best known for The Snow Queen, The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling and The Red Shoes - stories which brought joy to countless children around the world.

The sandstone part of his gravestone was sprayed with the graffiti tag 69 Dansk Kultur and cannot be erased, a spokesman for the cemetery said.

The address 69 Jagtvej is close to the cemetery and was the domicile of an a group of squatters called Ungdomshus until they were evicted by police last year. (dpa)