All cases

Arson and Break-in: Repeated targeting of churches in Sierck-les-Bains

July 13, 2025, France

On the night of 13 July, the room adjoining the church in Sierck-les-Bains was vandalised. The white plastic door was completely destroyed. A week earlier, two teenagers had been arrested for setting fire to a chapel in the same municipality.

Church desecrated by excrement

July 13, 2025, France

The Arudy church was desecrated overnight on 13 July, with a large amount of faeces left inside and outside the building. The parish priest intends to file a complaint. He also found urine on the sacristy door and the tablecloth that usually covers the altar thrown over the stools.

Vandalism in Münster church leads to restricted opening hours

July 10, 2025, Germany

As reported on 10 July, St. Bonifatius Church in Münster will remain closed outside of services due to a series of troubling acts of vandalism. According to the local pastor, Dr Heike Köhler, the building has repeatedly been defiled with faeces and littered with broken beer bottles. There have also been incidents of arson. Most recently, photographs of baptism candidates were deliberately set on fire.

Incitement to burn churches and priests

July 9, 2025, Italy

On the morning of 9 July, graffiti inciting violence against churches and priests was discovered on a house next to the Basilica of San Domenico in Perugia. The slogan read: "Churches should be burned down, but with the priests inside; otherwise it's not enough". An anarchist and transgender symbol was placed next to the quote.

Vandalism in Velen church

July 8, 2025, Germany

Repeated acts of vandalism at St. Andrew's Church in Velen, in the Borken district. The church has been left in a state of disarray, with overturned candles and firecrackers set off next to the high altar. The most recent example: The icon of 'Our Lady of Perpetual Help' was sprayed with wax, and the damage is estimated to be in the mid-three-digit range.

Arson at the pilgrimage chapel in Friedberg

July 8, 2025, Germany

Unknown individuals deliberately set multiple small fires inside the Maria Alber chapel in Friedberg-West. On the evening of 8 July, several pieces of partially burned paper, including church leaflets, newspapers and torn pages from the chapel's prayer book, were found under pews and near the candle stands. Parish officials have reported growing unease among community members, as this is not the first arson attack in recent weeks.

Hostilities erupt outside church in Langenau

July 7, 2025, Germany

Violence by pro-Palestine demonstrators against the congregation of St Martin's Protestant Church in Langenau, in the Alb-Donau district, has escalated. During an unannounced gathering outside the church, two protesters reportedly became physically violent and verbally abusive. Due to the repeated demonstrations becoming increasingly violent, many parishioners have stopped attending services out of fear.

Altar of church in Lido vandalised

July 6, 2025, Italy

Unknown individuals entered the church of Tarquinia Lido, Maria Santissima Stella del mare, and overturned and damaged all the objects on the altar. According to reports, the vandals entered through a window at the back of the church and then targeted the side chapel where the consecrated hosts are kept.

Arson attack in Garmisch-Partenkirchen: Helpers Stop Arsonist

July 6, 2025, Germany

On the afternoon of Saturday, June 29, 2025, a 28-year-old man allegedly set fire to several altars in the Catholic parish church of St. Martin in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. According to police, the man intentionally ignited altar cloths using a lighter and caused damage estimated in the high four-figure range. Two church visitors extinguished the flames before the fire department arrived and overpowered the suspect, who has been temporarily placed in a psychiatric clinic by court order.

Salsasio church closes to public due to repeated vandalism

July 3, 2025, Italy

Following repeated acts of vandalism and harassment of the faithful, the parish of Salsasio has decided to close the church on Via Novara to the public, keeping it open only for religious services. Parish leaders denounced the incidents as showing “contempt for a sacred place and for Christianity,” and expressed serious concern for the safety of the church and its sacred objects.