Gravestones and a statue of Mary defaced with spray paint

Case information
Incident date
Country
Poland
Place
Piotrków Kujawski, Jurków, Połajewo
Categories
  • Social Hostility / Intolerance
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Private
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Vandalism (all)
  • Vandalism of Cemetery
  • Vandalism of Public Christian Symbol
Place of Incident
  • Cemetery
  • Public Christian Symbol (outside place of worship)
Bias Indicators
  • Lack of Other Motive
  • Significance of Property/Structure/Location to religious community
Reported to Police
  • Yes
Response of Local Authorities
  • Investigated
Image credit: eska.pl

In March 2025, a series of vandalism incidents targeting Christian sites were reported in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship of Poland. According to local police spokesperson Marcin Krasucki, the first report came on 12 March from Piotrków Kujawski, where unknown perpetrators spray-painted and damaged nine gravestones in the town’s cemetery. Shortly after, a roadside statue of the Virgin Mary in the village of Jurków was defaced with spray paint and the surrounding fence was damaged. A third report came from the cemetery in Połajewo, where 11 gravestones were similarly vandalised with paint.

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident. They are a 55-year-old and a 23-year-old from the Radziejów district.

Sources