Vandalism of church doors in Prato

Case information
Incident date
Country
Italy
Place
Prato
Categories
  • Social Hostility / Intolerance
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Private
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Vandalism (all)
  • Vandalism of Church
Place of Incident
  • Church
Bias Indicators
  • Lack of Other Motive
  • Significance of Property/Structure/Location to religious community
  • Victim/Witness Perception
Reported to Police
  • Yes
Response of Local Authorities
  • Investigated
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Unknown vandals have caused serious damage to both the main and side doors of the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Carceri in Prato. The incident, described by the local bishop as a "serious and senseless gesture", is being investigated by the police.

On the night of 18 January, a group of unidentified vandals kicked in the wooden panels of the two main doors of an important Catholic basilica in Prato, one of the city's churches specially dedicated to the Holy Jubilee of 2025. Archbishop Giovanni Nerbibi has visited the site and commented on the situation: "It is certainly a despicable act that can be commented on in itself, and it is a serious and senseless gesture (...). I really believe that it is vandalism carried out to release anger and tension".

A complaint has already been lodged with the police, who are now investigating and searching for CCTV footage of the area in the hope of finding the suspects.

Sources