Religious Painting Damaged and Crown Element Stolen Inside St. Gudula Church

Case information
Incident date
Country
Germany
Place
Rhede
Categories
  • Social Hostility / Intolerance
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Private
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Theft
  • Vandalism (all)
  • Intolerance towards Religious Symbols
Place of Incident
  • Church
Bias Indicators
  • Significance of Property/Structure/Location to religious community
Reported to Police
  • Yes
Response of Local Authorities
  • Investigated
Image credit: Wikimedia

A targeted act of thefts inside St. Gudula Church in Rhede saw a sacred painting damaged and a crown depiction removed and stolen.

Police are investigating a targeted act of vandalism at St. Gudula Church in Rhede, where unknown individuals deliberately interfered with a sacred painting. During the incident, the artwork was damaged and a crown depiction was removed and stolen from the piece.

The crime is believed to have taken place between 6 May and 9 May 2026. The police in Borken have opened an investigation

Sources