All cases
Desecration of Monastery in Halefka by Illegal Techno Party
April 7, 2021, CyprusThe Armenian monastery of Saint Magar in the North of Cyprus has been desecrated by an illegal techno party. The party is said to have taken place in March, although a video of the party was only released in April. The Religious Leaders of the Island have now released a statement declaring: “The Religious Leaders of Cyprus condemn this unfortunate act and any misuse, disrespect and desecration of places of worship and cemeteries in Cyprus, irrespective of intention, religion, dogma and denomination". In their statement, they pointed out that all places of worship and cemeteries, in use or not, are protected against vandalism. They stated furthermore that “disrespecting places of worship and cemeteries creates pain, nurtures mistrust and becomes an obstacle to peaceful coexistence”.
An Islamic Attack Planned Against a Church in Montpellier
April 7, 2021, FranceOn the 7th of April, the French authorities received information from the Moroccan General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGSI) about a French woman of Moroccan origin who lives in Béziers. This woman was "planning an imminent terrorist operation targeting a church in France." According to the investigations, she lives in Dévèze, a ‘’sensitive’’ district of Béziers, and intended to carry out the act. The investigators found in her flat a sword and mechanism as well as materials to make TATP, which is a powerful explosive. The woman remains in custody.
Arson at Church In Gelsenkirchen
April 5, 2021, GermanyThe Church of St. Mary's Assumption in Gelsenkirchen-Rotthausen was the victim of an arson attack on the 5th of April in the evening, which is also Easter Monday. The fire brigade was on the scene with 80 emergency personnel. The fire started inside the building and had broken out into the sacristy. From there, the fire spread to the nave and smoke came out of the roof. Right before the fire broke out, witnesses saw young people running out of the church. According to the police, they have had two previous incidents in the same church.
Arson to Church In Northern France causes extensive Damage
April 5, 2021, FranceOn Easter Monday evening, 5. April, a fire broke out in the listed collegiate church of Saint-Nicolas in Avesnes-Sur-Helpe near Cambrai, causing extensive damage to the church. A man was placed in custody facing 10 years of prison for the arson attack to the church. It seems that the fire was set near the wooden altarpiece, leading to several works being destroyed or damaged.
The Wall Behind the Church Destroyed
April 5, 2021, FranceDuring the night of Sunday to Monday, the wall of the old cemetery, just behind the church in the street of Rhome, has been destroyed. Anne-Sophie Peureux-Demangelle, the mayor of Lachapelle-sous-Chaux, claims that the wall did not fall down by itself. It was a clear act of vandalism with a tractor. The perpetrators circulated a video on social media particularly Snapchat. They commented: 'We didn't fake it last night'." The town hall has filed a complaint to the police.
Church In Paris Robbed And Desecrated
April 4, 2021, FranceOn the night of Easter Sunday, thieves gained entry into the Église Saint-Joseph des Nations church in Paris. They escaped with the proceeds of the collection, two sacred vessels and a consecrated host. According to Aleteia, “the thieves took away the large chest containing the proceeds of Easter collections, three (empty) boxes and two ciboriums that they located by forcing the doors of the tabernacle. The hosts were found on the altar tablecloth, while the large host used for adoration was taken away by the vandals. The police are investigating.
Church in Aichach Tagged with Insulting Graffiti "Hypocrite Church = Child Molester" During Easter Week
April 4, 2021, GermanyOn the night of Easter Sunday, April 4th, unknown perpetrators tagged the facade of the town parish church in Aichach with an insulting and stereotyping slogan. In the morning, the sacristan reported the damage to property to the police. The police are investigating.
Unknown Perpetrators Loot Offertory Box Of Church In Corigliano Scalo
April 4, 2021, ItalyIn the days immediately before Easter, the parish of Saints Leo and Nicholas in the town of Scalo in the Gallo D'Oro area was targeted. During the night, unknown persons broke into the church through a smashed window and stole from the church interior only a few coins that were kept in the offertory. They also broke open a door and stole a loudspeaker. The police are investigating.
Easter Service in Nidda Disrupted By Three Young Men Scanting Islamic Slogans
April 3, 2021, GermanyThree unknown, alcoholised young Muslim men have disturbed the Easter Vigil service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church "Zum Heiligen Geist" in Nidda, Central Hesse. According to the church congregation, they repeatedly attacked worshippers (especially children and teenagers) and shouted "There is only one God, and that is Allah" and "Allah is the greatest". The unknown perpetrators had already insulted some of the worshippers outside the church and even filmed them. The perpetrators were asked to leave numerous times, also because they did not wear masks but refused to do so. The State Security Service has started an investigation for disturbing the exercise of religion.
Blasphemous Posters on the Door of the Polish House in Bydgoszcz
April 2, 2021, PolandOn the 2nd of April posters explicitly attacking the Catholic Church and mocking the holy cross were hung on the door of the Polish House in Bydgoszcz. The Catholic House in Bydgoszcz, also called the Polish House, is a historic public building used as a place of activity by Catholic organisations and associations in Bydgoszcz. The unknown perpetrators also left the blasphemous inscription: "The secret of faith - cars and dollars". The holy cross, The incident was reported by the church authorities to the city police.
London Police Abruptly Interrupts Easter Service - Church Complains
April 2, 2021, United KingdomOn charges of violating COVID-19 rules, police in the UK have interrupted up a Good Friday service celebrated at the Roman Catholic Christ the King Church in London. Police also threatened to fine each person sitting in the pews $280. According to the British Independent newspaper, churches are allowed to hold services during the lockdown in England with no limit on the number of parishioners as long as the congregation adheres to social distancing and wears masks. The church rejected the police claims, saying in a statement, "We believe, however, that the police brutally exceeded their powers by issuing their warrant for no good reason, as all government requirements were met."
Vandalism Leaves Statue of 'Extraordinary Historical Value' at Chapel Destroyed
April 1, 2021, PolandA statue of the Virgin Mary of historical value has been destroyed at the Holy Spirit Church in Koszalin in Poland on 1 April. The statue was of exceptional value since it was given to the Parish by a survivor of the Dachau concentration camp and was seen as a shrine of memorial for the ones who did not survive the camp. The chapel in which the statue was standing was also vandalised. Police are investigating.
Vandalism in Diersheim Churches
April 1, 2021, GermanyOn the first of April, the Diersheim church was found with hymn books thrown around and paper lying on the floor with some of it burnt. It was not known who committed the crime.
Offensive Tags Hanged on Churches in León
April 1, 2021, SpainThe churches in León of El Salvador, San Juan, San Pedro de Renueva, Santa Marina and in the Collegiate Church of San Isidoro were all targeted with hateful messages. This included posters put on them with the words "Closed for sexist", "Closed for homophobes", "Expropriators", or "Closed for misogynists." The churches were also taped shut an the police opened an investigation into the matter as it was not known who did it.
Polish Anarchists Hung A Vulgar Banner On A Church In Warsaw
March 31, 2021, PolandFar-left groups in Poland are proud to show themselves profaning the Church of the Holy Saviour in the centre of Warsaw on social media. Local anarchists lit flares in front of the entrance to the temple and hung a banner with vulgar inscription on the scaffolding. The assault took place on the afternoon of March 31st. The far-left in Poland seems to enjoys an impunity. This is evidenced by the minimal reaction of the judiciary to the series of provocations, desecrations and attacks carried out against Catholic churches since October 2020. According to the TVP Info portal, the recent attack did not cause any material losses, and no one was physically harmed. Nevertheless, the series of incidents strongly accentuated the symbolic dimension of these acts.
Servite Church in Innsbruck Heavily Vandalised
March 31, 2021, AustriaUnknown perpetrators vandalized the Servite Church in Tirol's capital Innsbruck. The damage caused has been estimated to be several thousand Euros. According to police reports, the perpetrators destroyed several statues, sacred objects, and contaminated the premises. It is thought to have occurred sometime between 11.25 and 11.55 on the 31st of March. Police were investigating and witnesses were asked to come forward.
Altar Statue Smashed and Parish Documents Burned in Romilly-sur-Seine
March 31, 2021, FranceIn the Saint-Martin Church in Romilly-sur-Seine, a plaster statue of the Virgin Mary, located behind the altar, was smashed on the floor on March 31st. Earlier in the week, some parish documents from a display had been burned at the altar. Father Richard Lukaszewski filed a complaint about this vandalism and requested that the local police make more frequent rounds in that area.
Arson at St.Peter Church in Linz
March 28, 2021, AustriaOn March 28th, the church of St. Peter in Linz was severely damaged by a fire. According to the church's parish priest, the fire was set inside a chapel near the wooden altar. Despite early attempts to extinguish the fire, the wooden altar was destroyed and a statue of the Virgin Mary was damaged. The next day the police reported that a book commemorating the dead, which was lying on a side table, had been purposefully set on fire. Since the fire did not pose a serious threat to any person, the police stated they would only investigating for damage to property. The damage amounts to around €80,000.
Man Sets Fire To Church In Wokingham
March 26, 2021, United KingdomAfter a fire broke out at a church in Wokingham on 26 March, the police arrested a 28-year-old man suspected of arson. The police was called at around 3pm after the fire was reported.
Attempted Theft of Sacred Objects from via Catalani Church
March 26, 2021, ItalyOn March 26th, 34-year-old Moroccan Mohamed Laafar, attempted to steal a chalice, a pyx, and a throne, from the parish of Peata maria Vergine della Pieta, in via Catalani. He would have succeeded, had the carabinieri not been alerted to the suspicious activity at which point they intervened and arrested him. On May 24th of 2022, he was sentenced by the Court of Sciacca Dino Toscano, to 5 months and 10 days imprisonment and a fine of 200 euros.