Vandalism Reported at Unused Derio Monastery Targets Religious Objects

Case information
Incident date
Country
Spain
Place
Derio
Categories
  • Social Hostility / Intolerance
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Private
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Vandalism (all)
  • Vandalism of Christian Building (other)
  • Intolerance towards Religious Symbols
Place of Incident
  • Christian Building
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

The unused monastery of Derio in Bizkaia fell victim to an act of vandalism and desecration, when unknown perpetrators broke into the monastery and caused deliberate destruction of crucifixes, chalices, and religious paintings. The religious community emphasised that intruders went to break one by one the liturgical objects they found.

On November 20, 2025, the ex-Clarisas of Belorado, who left the Catholic Church in May 2024, filed a complaint with the Ertzaintza after finding extensive vandalism at the unused monastery of Derio in Bizkaia. During a routine inspection, they documented forced doors and windows, broken locks, damaged furniture, and deliberate destruction of liturgical objects including crucifixes, chalices, and religious paintings.

Francisco Canals, spokesperson for the group, explained that the intruders went to break one by one the liturgical objects they found. He also noted that a small bonfire had been lit inside the convent and that the arrangement of some objects suggested possible ritual activity. The monastery, where the group no longer resides, is one of three properties disputed with the Archdiocese of Burgos.

Sources