Violent Man Vandalises church in Switzerland

Case information
Incident date
Country
Switzerland
Place
Lugano
Categories
  • Government Restrictions
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Private
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Desecration
  • Physical Violence
  • Vandalism (all)
  • Vandalism of Church
Place of Incident
  • Church
Reported to Police
  • Yes
Response of Local Authorities
  • Investigated

In the morning of October 27. a man vandalised the church of San Carlo in Lugano. First, holding a vase of flowers, he hit the protective glass of the statue of the Virgin above the altar. Then he used a candleholder to destroy other statues and objects in the church, including decapitating a plaster statue of Padre Pio. The sacristan's wife, assisted by another person, locked the intruder in the church and called the police. The sacristan, who arrived at the church shortly after, tried to stop the intruder, who then attempted to assault him.

Sources