Figure of Jesus broken into pieces: Cross in Tarnow Vandalised

Case information
Incident date
Country
Poland
Place
Klikowa
Categories
  • Social Hostility / Intolerance
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Private
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Vandalism (all)
  • Vandalism of Public Christian Symbol
Place of Incident
  • Public Christian Symbol (outside place of worship)
Bias Indicators
  • Lack of Other Motive
  • Pattern or Frequency of Attacks
  • Significance of Property/Structure/Location to religious community
  • Victim/Witness Perception
Reported to Police
  • Yes
Response of Local Authorities
  • Investigated
Image credit: Archive of the parish, Paweł Gloss

On the night of November 7, vandals broke a statue of Christ on the missionary cross in front of the church in Tarnow-Klikowa, into small pieces. Also, the statue's head was stolen. The parish priest and the faithful are convinced that it was a deliberate act of desecration.

The statue of Christ was broken into small pieces. Only the hand of Jesus, attached with a nail, remained on the cross. The figure of Christ was made of fiberglass. The police are investiating.

"After the policemen finished their activities, we collected parts of the broken figure, but there is no head of Jesus among them. It seems that whoever destroyed the crucifix took it with him or threw it somewhere", said Father Wiszniewski.

The same incident happened in Tarnow in January, as we reported.

Sources