On Thursday 21 March, the mass in the church of San Marco in Castellammare di Stabia was violently interrupted. A person entered the church and disrupted the religious rite in progress. Witnesses reported that the man pointed his finger at the worshippers, made threatening gun-like gestures and pretended to shoot at them. The worshippers present reacted firmly and stood up to the intruder despite his intimidating behaviour. The man then shouted and left the church, aggressively slamming the doors behind him.
Father Luigi Russo, the assistant parish priest, confirmed that there was some commotion during the celebration.
The church has been the target of theft and vandalism in the past.