On January 5, 2017, the exterior of the parish of Santa María de Nazaret in Madrid, Spain, was vandalized with graffiti and an figure of Christ was damaged by unknown perpetrators.
The perpetrator, a Gambian with a valid residence permit, broke the glass case containing a statue of the Virgin Mary in the courtyard of the Church of the Madonna del Rosario and then burned the Christmas crèche, completely destroying it. He admitted the act to the police, saying that he was Muslim and wanted to destroy the Christian symbols.
A safe containing 50,000 euros was stolen from the Orval Abbey, a Cistercien-Trappist Monastery famous for a brewery whose profits go to fund social projects. Police are investigating.
Illegal fireworks are the likely cause of damage to the recently restored roof of the Reformed Church in Poeldijk. Witnesses saw two men on the roof setting fireworks, which are illegal. Officials have not determined if the damage was intentional, but the perpetrators have not come forward and police are investigating.
On New Year's Eve, unknown perpetrators vandalized a chapel, damaging a statue of the Virgin Mary and burned prayer books and wooden objects nearby. Damages are estimated at around 1,000 euros. Police are investigating.
Unknown perpetrators beheaded a statue of St. Barbara and stole a Christ figure from a cross and several other sacred objects. Damage is estimated at around 5,000 euros. Police are investigating.
Unknown perpetrators broke into the chapel, threw stones at the altar, smashed two glass domes containing statues of the Virgin Mary, and stole and destroyed 22 paintings and murals hung by pilgrims visiting the chapel.
A 22-year-old man from Afghanistan stabbed a Christian woman when he heard her reading from the Bible at a refugee accommodation in Vöcklamarkt (Upper Austria).
Police removed a man who disrupted the Mass at the Church of Saint-Christophe in Tourcoing after he frightened and disturbed the parishioners.
The wall of church of Saint-Martin Saint-Laurent d'Orsay was tagged with an anti-consumerism message ("Noël fête du capitalisme") in black paint. Police are investigating.
A statue of an angel was stolen from the manger scene where it had been displayed for the last 80 years. Parishioners are upset and the Mayor called the theft "scandalous" because the angel was part of the town's heritage. A police complaint was filed.
In the morning of December 23, 2016 a parish employee discovered the locked doors forced open, bibles torn, and the newly-restored processional cross destroyed. The pastor estimates damages in the thousands of euros. Police are investigating.
The UK government has proposed that all office holders and employees of the State swear an Oath of Allegiance to British Values that conflicts with traditional Christian teaching about sexuality.
A Nativity scene set up in an old fountain in Wimille was completely destroyed by a fire during the night of December 20-21st. Police are investigating whether it was intentionally set, or a short circuit in the lighting. The city chose not to replace it, in case it was an act of vandalism.
Anis Amri, a 24-year old Tunisian man, stole a truck and intentionally drove it into a crowded Christmas market near the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in West Berlin, leaving 12 dead and more than 50 injured. ISIS claimed responsibility, and the driver pledged allegiance to ISIS, calling on his "Muslim brothers everywhere... Those in Europe, kill the crusader pigs." "Crusaders" refers to Christians in ISIS rhetoric. While in the Italian prison in Sicily, Anis Amri threatened one of his fellow prisoners: “You are Christian and I will cut your head off,” according to Reppublica, which indicates the attacker's pre-existing bias against Christians.
The Cathedral of Saint-Louis was the repeated victim of looting, vandalism, and theft on December 14th, 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th. The Cathedral is being restored and the perpetrators broke recently-renovated windows to gain entry.
The Christmas display in the town hall was removed to "avoid offending Muslims living in the area," resulting in protests and objections from citizens, politicians, and some Muslim activists who said it was absurd to say that Muslims are offended by the birth of Jesus.
Police are investigating acts of vandalism and intentional fires set in the Church of Saint-Blaise and the Church of Saint-Michel.
Unknown perpetrators entered the Orthodox church of the Archangel Michael near Lagoliou, set sacred books on fire in the sanctuary, and sprayed "Allah is great" in Arabic on the walls.
During the children's performance in Schwanenstadt, attended by parents and relatives, a 24-year-old Somali man with a backpack and plastic bag got on stage and began waving the Koran around. When people tried to remove him, he resisted and began shouting "Allah." The police investigated.