On 24 February 2026, repeated acts of vandalism were reported at a church in Freising, including the deliberate lighting of plastic candles, damage involving lamp oil, and the theft of church objects. The incidents created a potential fire hazard inside the church.
The incident occurred on 24 February 2026 at St. Jakob Church in the Vötting district of Freising. According to reports, unknown perpetrators deliberately lit plastic LED candles located in the children’s area of the church, causing the plastic casings to melt and produce heavy soot.
In addition, oil candles were removed from their holders and thrown to the ground, causing lamp oil to spill inside the church and requiring extensive cleaning. A wooden bowl and a Bible were also reported stolen.
The deliberate misuse of candles inside the church created a potential fire risk and caused damage to the interior. The combination of vandalism and theft affected both church property and religious objects.
Police investigations were initiated, but no suspect had been identified at the time of reporting.