Recurrent Vandalism and Damages in Dielheim Church

Case information
Incident date
Country
Germany
Place
Dielheim
Categories
  • Social Hostility / Intolerance
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Private
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Vandalism (all)
  • Vandalism of Church
  • Insult or Incitement
Religious Freedom / Discrimination
  • Censorship or Removal of Public Christian Symbols
Place of Incident
  • Church
Bias Indicators
  • Pattern or Frequency of Attacks
  • Significance of Property/Structure/Location to religious community
  • Time/Place/Location
Reported to Police
  • Yes
Response of Local Authorities
  • Unknown
Image credit: unsplash

In a large-scale act of vandalism in the St-Cyriak-Kirche in Dielheim, discovered on the 22nd of June, the glass of a candlestick was broken as were numerous candles, the contents of a first-aid kit were scattered on the floor, a holy water font was emptied and self-painted pictures of the first communion soaked with water. The damage is estimated to be around 3000 euros. This current case of vandalism has moved the parish council to go to the police and limit the opening hours of the church. The church has seen smaller acts of vandalism before, including broken windows or candles, but something of this scale hasn't occurred since 2017.

In 2017, the organ was badly damaged by vandals, numerous pipes were bent or partly trampled on.

Sources