Man Attacks Crucifix and Brutally Beats Up Priest

Case information
Incident date
Country
Italy
Place
Rome
Categories
  • Social Hostility / Intolerance
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Private
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Desecration
  • Physical Violence
  • Threats
  • Vandalism (all)
  • Vandalism of Church
  • Intolerance towards Religious Symbols
Religious Freedom / Discrimination
  • Censorship or Removal of Public Christian Symbols
  • Other (text field)
Place of Incident
  • Church
Bias Indicators
  • Comments/Written Statements/Gestures/Graffiti
Reported to Police
  • Yes
Response of Local Authorities
  • Investigated
Image credit: Roma Today

On the18th of October, a 46-year-old man with a criminal record vandalised the parish of San Giovanni Maria Vianney in Rome. He entered the church in the afternoon, while the parish priest was preparing for the celebrations. The man threw himself on the statue of Jesus crucified and started damaging it. As the priest tried to stop him, the perpetrator punched him in the face and pushed him to throw him to the ground, threatening him with death. With the help of a collaborator, he was taken outside, where he kicked the door of the church. As the police arrived he was also violent to the officers, the man was then arrested.

Sources