All cases
Offensive Graffiti on Church Door in Poznań
March 25, 2020, PolandThe main entrance door of the church on Dąbrówki Street in Poznań was smeared by an unknown perpetrator during the night of March 24th to March 25th. An anarchist "A" symbol was sprayed on a pillar and the phrase "zdejmij suknię śmieciu" This roughly translates to: "take off your dress, punk" in blue paint was sprayed on the church. The police are investigating and searching for witnesses.
Graffiti On Door Of The Church Saint-Hermeland
March 25, 2020, FranceIn the night between March 25th and March 26th, a graffiti with the slogan "Vive le marriage libre" (Long live free marriage) was sprayed on the door of the church of Saint-Hermeland in Loire-Atlantique. The police immediately identified the perpetrator, a well-known militant in anarchist circles.
Anti-Christian Graffiti On The Church of Bouguenais
March 25, 2020, FranceOn 25th March in Bouguenais, graffities were discovered on the walls of the city and the entrance of the church with hostile phrases saying "Save a Life, cough up a policeman", "Hang the Priests and Hang the Counts" and "No God, No Father, No Mother".
Vandalism in Cemetery of Wysokie: Broken Crosses and Plates
March 25, 2020, PolandAround the end of March, a 22-year-old perpetrator entered the cemetery in Wysokie and devastated three graves. He destroyed plates, torn off the crosses and broke them and damaged the flacons, he also smashed the candles all over the cemetery. The total damage was estimated to be over 4.700 Zlotys. The police officers arrested the young man. In Niepolomice, the officers detained also a 28-year-old man in Podłęże for a similar crime.
Church and Oratory Vandalized and Desecrated In Two Consecutive Days
March 24, 2020, ItalyOn the 24th March, the ancient precious monstrance and a chalice were stolen from the local church in Ariano. The thieves attacked the religious building by smashing the windows and doors, overturning the crucifix and throwing consecrated hosts on the floor. The unknown perpetrators broke in through the side entrance after failing to use the main entrance. The community of Crociara was in shock after this incident. On the next day 25th March, the municipality of Corbola was also attacked, the sports field was damaged and the Oratory of Corbola was raided. The scene was similar as in Crociara, the windows and doors were broken and burglary took place.
Evangelical Church Dorfkirche Vandalized
March 24, 2020, GermanyIn the afternoon of March 24th, a 43-year-old man broke into the evangelical church Dorfkirche in the district of Karow in Berlin and destroyed the interior. The man climbed up to the organ loft and shouted incomprehensible words, probably in a foreign language. When the police tried to arrest him he pushed them back, threatened them with a wooden plank and went on vandalizing the church. The police reinforcement was finally able to arrest the man and took him to a psychiatric hospital. The reason for this crime is unknown.
The Church in The District of Pankow Vandalized
March 24, 2020, GermanyOn Tuesday 24th March, a 43-year-old man devastated a Church with wooden slats and hit the police officers. The man first damaged the interior of the building and then went to the organ balcony, and shouted incomprehensible words. When the police approached, he hit them with the wooden slat and continued to destroy the church furniture. The officers called reinforcements and were able to arrest the man and took him to a psychiatric hospital.
Religious Statues Stoned by Vandals
March 23, 2020, ItalyAround March 15th, unknown perpetrators stoned the statues of the Virgin Mary and Pope John Paul II placed next to the entrance of the church San Martino in Magnago.
Theft from Church in Mantes-La-Ville
March 23, 2020, FranceWhile France is subject to lockdown measures related to the coronavirus, thieves stole three video projectors and the money collected during Masses from the safe in the church of Sacré-Cœur in Mantes-la-Ville on March 23rd.
Small thefts from the Church of Mantes-la-Ville During the Confinement
March 23, 2020, FranceOn the 23rd of March, unknown thieves stole video projectors and money during the quests. The amount of the theft remains unknown.
Two Churches In Laubenheim Vandalised
March 22, 2020, GermanyTwo window panels and one element at the back window of the protestant church in Laubenheim have been broken. A lead glass element at the Catholic church and a large pane at the community center have been damaged too. The perpetrator had shared the committed crime on Facebook before being arrested by the police. The damage was repaired within two weeks, but the costs were tremendous.
A Historic Chapel in Wachtberg-Werthoven Defaced
March 22, 2020, GermanyAround the 20th March, the Jakobus Chapel in the Village of Wachtberg-Werthhoven was defaced with graffiti by unknown vandals. Hate messages like "ACAB" (All Cops Are Bastards) or "Fuck AfD" were written on the walls and the door. There were also combinations of numbers and other signs. The oak door of the Chapel had been repaired by volunteers the year before. The police started investigating, as similar acts took place in neighbouring villages.
Dąbrowa Górnicza Church Desecrated
March 21, 2020, PolandOn March 21stM a drunk 41-year-old man broke into the church of Dąbrowa Górnicza and profaned the historic altars of Our Lady of the Angels. The man was stopped by priests and put under arrest by the police.
After Arson In 2015 Luther Church Targeted by Criminals Again
March 21, 2020, GermanyIn the night between March 21th and March 22th, unknown perpetrators tried to break into the Luther church in Altena. They were able to unhinge the large and heavy oak door, but the criminal act was disturbed by the security alarm. Nothing was stolen, but the police are investigating and searching for witnesses.
Fire Set in Saint Anna Church
March 21, 2020, GermanyAn unknown person set fire to the seat cushion of a wooden prayer bench in the Catholic Church of Saint Anna in Blieskastel-Biesingen. This incident happened between the evening of March 21st and the afternoon of March 22. The police are investigating and searching for witnesses.
Nativity Figures Stolen from a Church
March 21, 2020, GermanyUnknown perpetrators broke into the Evangelical church on the Ringstraße in Aldekerk, Kerken through a broken window between the evening of March 21st and the morning of the 22nd. They searched several cupboards and stole two nativity figures, before fleeing in an unknown direction. The police are investigating.
Church Window Broken With A Whisky Bottle
March 21, 2020, GermanyAn unknown perpetrator threw a whisky bottle at a window of the protestant church Mainz-Laubenheim and broke it. The police are investigating and searching for witnesses.
Burglary In Catholic Sacristy in Reichenbach-Steegen
March 21, 2020, GermanyBetween Saturday 21th evening and Monday 30th morning unknown thieves stole cash and chalices from the sacristy of the Catholic church in Reichenbach-Steegen. The chalices are sacred and used for holding religious services. The police are investigating and searching for witnesses.
Vandalism of Church in Italy Despite Quarantine
March 20, 2020, ItalyThe coronavirus quarantine did not prevent the vandalism of a church: during the night between March 20th and March 21st, the church of Santa Restituta in Sora was defaced with black and red spray paint.
Chick-fil-A Closes its Reading restaurant
March 20, 2020, United KingdomIn October 2019, the American restaurant Chick-fil-A signed a six-month lease and opened a franchise in The Oracle shopping center in Reading. LGBT protesters promptly began a "Get the Chick Out" boycott campaign, due to the company's previous support of a Christian charity which opposed same-sex marriage. The company indicated that the closure was part of its strategy of opening "pilot license locations“ with limited menus in partnership with local organizations to test the waters while expanding.