A 45-year-old man was detained after allegedly desecrating the image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and attempting to set fire to a chapel in the Polanka district of Krosno. The attack damaged the Marian icon, including the eyes of the Virgin Mary and the face of Jesus, while additional destruction was reported inside the chapel.
An act of desecration and attempted arson targeted the chapel of the parish of Our Lady Queen of Poland in the Polanka district of Krosno, southeastern Poland, on 22 May 2026.
Shortly before the evening Mass, a church attendant discovered traces of fire and vandalism inside the chapel after noticing suspicious behaviour near the building. Investigators believe the perpetrator used a lighter to ignite material placed beneath the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
The attack caused damage to the wooden frame of the Marian image, part of the altar and a religious banner inside the chapel. The icon itself was deliberately burned, with visible destruction reported to the eyes of the Virgin Mary and the face of Jesus. Additional damage was also discovered on the chapel windows, which appeared to have been struck with stones.
Reports further noted that an unopened can of beer had been left on the altar following the incident. Because the chapel is directly connected to the church building, local reports stressed that the rapid intervention likely prevented a much larger fire from spreading through the parish complex.
Police later detained a 45-year-old suspect and an investigation into the motives and full circumstances of the attack remains ongoing.