All cases
Four Crosses Defaced with Islamic Graffiti
February 15, 2024, FranceIn Dordogne, four large public crucifixes in separate towns were defaced with references to Islam sometime between December 24, 2023 and February 15, 2024. Two of the crosses were located on the side of the road in Saint-Pantaly-d'Excideuil, the two others in Cherveix-Cubas. One cross, built in the 1800s in a village of 146 people, had the word “Islam” and a crescent moon sprayed on it. Another inscription read “Allah”. Yet another cross was spray-painted with, “Today is the land of infidels, tomorrow the land of Islam.”
Stations of the cross vandalised
February 13, 2024, AustriaThe stations of the cross, that are usually installed in the forest between the old to the new cemetery of St Stephan's church in Amstetten, Austria, have been vandalised. Some of the wooden crosses were torn out of the ground and destroyed.
Vandalism at a Roadside Shrine in Włocławek
February 12, 2024, PolandThe roadside shrine in Włocławek has been vandalised for the third time within two weeks. A statue of Mary has been taken out of the shrine and destroyed. The broken pieces were left on the floor.
Fire set repeatedly in front of St. Bartholomäus church
February 12, 2024, GermanyFire was set repeatedly in the outdoor area of St. Bartholomäus church in Götzingen. Further, the unknown perpetrators stole, among other things, prayer flyers and sacrificial candles from inside the prayer house and set them on fire on the stairs to the sacristy.
Rioters caused damage in church of St. Ägidius
February 11, 2024, GermanyUnknown people rioted in the St. Ägidius Church in Grafing. Several prayer books were thrown to the ground, the microphones at the altar were tampered with and an elaborately decorated Easter candle was broken. The material damage is estimated at around 300 euros. The police are currently investigating.
St. Ägidius Church Vandalised
February 11, 2024, GermanyDuring the night between February 10 and 11, unknown perpetrators vandalized the church of St. Ägidius in Grafing. Several prayer books were thrown to the floor, the microphones on the altar were tampered with and an elaborately decorated Easter candle was broken. The material damage is estimated at around 300 euros.
1,000 euros of property damage to Eiterfeld Church
February 8, 2024, GermanyUnknown persons went into the St. Franziskus-Xaverius Churchin Eiterfeld and broke open a wooden interior door. “According to current information, nothing was stolen,” the police said. However, the property damage amount to around 1,000 euros.
Window of Dettelbach church smashed
February 7, 2024, GermanyBetween February 6 and 7 a window of Dettelbach church, which is located on a pilgrimage route, was smashed. According to a police report the perpetrator climbed the scaffolding in order to do this. The damage is estimated around 500 euros.
Suspected Arson to the Church of the Heart of Jesus in Vilnius
February 6, 2024, LithuaniaIn the Church of the Heart of Jesus, a fire broke out during where the wooden floor was burnt. The police suspect an arson attack. The loss is estimated to be 5,000 euros.
Relics stolen from church of Lonno
February 6, 2024, ItalySacred objects were stolen from the Sant'Antonio Abate Church of Lonno. On February 2, the parish priest Roberto Zanini found the tabernacle damaged. Upon further inspection he noticed that two sacred oils and two small relics were stolen in addition to the statuette and tabernacle being damaged.
Cross of 7th Century Church of Vankasar Removed
February 5, 2024, ArmeniaThe cross of the 7th Century Vankasar Church has been found removed on pictures circulating online.
Vandalism in the church of Fontenay-le-Comte
February 5, 2024, FranceOn February 5, vandals attacked the church of Notre Dame in Fontenay-le-Comte and broke two statues. The local Catholic community is deeply shocked about these acts.
St. Joseph Church in Schalke Vandalised
February 4, 2024, GermanyIn the course of a series of vandalism attacks, the St. Joseph Church in Schalke has also been targeted. The perpetrators threw projectiles through the stained windows destroying four windows, breaking a door and two gates.
LGBT group vandalises Greek Orthodox Church
February 4, 2024, GreeceThe Church of St. Achillius of Larissa was vandalised on the eve of the reading of the synodal circular of the Orthodox Church of Greece on the bill to legalize gay marriage. Unknown people wrote slogans on the ground and walls directed against the Orthodox faith and Metropolitan Jerome personally.
Arson Attack on Priest's Car
February 3, 2024, ItalyPriest Don Giovanni Rigoli's car was set on fire by an unknown perpetrator. This happened after the celebration of a funeral in the parish church of Santo Stefano.
Man breaks statue in Saint Jean-Baptiste church "in the name of Allah"
February 2, 2024, FranceA man entered Saint Jean-Baptiste church and violently attacked the statue of John the Baptist using a crucifix. The statue, made of plaster, was completely broken and the crucifix was badly damaged.
Vandalism at the Sacred Heart Church
January 31, 2024, GermanyOn January 31, unknown perpetrators entered the Sacred Heart Church in Sorghof, Germany and used candles to burn a hole in the upholstery of a prayer stool. Further, they also destroyed the reading glasses the church had kept there for a churchgoer.
Man turns himself in after spray painting satanist symbols on church
January 31, 2024, GermanyA man 32 hands himself into the police after going on a vandalism spree around Markt Schwaben. Spray painting the town hall and elementary school with anti-police and Nazi messages before then painting satanist symbols on a chapel and St. Margaret's Church.
Vandalism and Desecration of Eucharist in Church
January 31, 2024, ItalyThieves broke into the Church of Saint Mary of the Carmine in Lecce and stole money, desecrated the Eucharist kept in the tabernacle, and turned various sacred furnishings into corpses.
Suspected Arson Attack at St. Walpurgis Church
January 30, 2024, GermanyA fire broke out in the altar area of St. Walpurgis Church burning, among other things, the nativity scene. The fire caused damage of estimated 50,000 euros. Investigators have ruled out a technical defect and are assuming arson.
Vandals destroy tombstones and chapel of the Secret Army
January 30, 2024, BelgiumOn January 30 vandals destroy tombstones and chapel of the Secret Army in Hoelbeek, Belgium. First the gravestones were smeared twice with black paint. Some time later the door and information columns of the chapel of the Secret Army were also painted black.
Communist and Anti-Israel Graffiti on Santa Maria della Pietà Church
January 29, 2024, ItalyThe external wall of the church of Santa Maria della Pieta, in via San Vitale, was daubed with symbols and the writing 'Israel = death', drawn in red paint. The letters "CCCP" and a hammer and sickle in red paint were also left on the wall.
Vandalism and Theft the Sanctuary of the Angels in Cuneo
January 28, 2024, ItalyThe Sanctuary of the Angels Church has repeatedly been a target of vandalism. Most recently, the statue of the Madonna was found on the ground with its little finger missing. While in the past it was mostly the candles in front of the statue of the Madonna which disappeared, this time a vase of holy water was stolen in the church.
Satanists leave 1000 Euros in Damage due to Church Vandalism
January 28, 2024, GermanyA pentagram was painted on the side entrance door of St. Vitus Church in Blumberg. An external electronic sensor and a lamp have also been damaged.
Man Set Fire around and inside Bordeaux-Caudéran church
January 27, 2024, FranceOn January 27, a man set a fire outside of the church in a bin before going inside the church and trying to set the altar on fire. He also attempted to set fire to a chair. He was quickly stopped by parishioners before the police came and arrested him.
Vandalism at St. Peter and Paul church Lindenberg
January 26, 2024, GermanyAn unknown perpetrator threw rotten eggs at the five doors of St. Peter and Paul church Lindenberg. The parish priest said he did not believe that this was simply a joke by youth. This is not the first time the church has been targeted.
Fire set on church of San Matteo
January 9, 2024, ItalyOn January 9, someone set fire to wooden pallets leaning against the walls of the Salesian Oratory of San Matteo in Messina, Italy. The fire blackened the walls of the church and the pavement. The incident was reported to the police by the oratory's director, Don Gabriele Cardaciatto. "We consider certain behaviours to be absurd and unseemly incivility," said Raffaele Verso, President of the V Municipality of Messina.
St. John Church in Barcelona vandalised by left-wing group
January 9, 2024, SpainOn January 9, the church of Saint John in Barcelona, Spain, was vandalised by the left-wing organisation ARRAN. The church is considered a cultural asset of the city. The incident was published in X by and several users called for ARRAN to be fined.
Hosts and sacred objects stolen
January 8, 2024, ItalyOn January 8, between 2am and 4am, thieves broke into the sanctuary of Beata Vergine dell'Olmo in Portomaggiore, Italy, and stole hosts, sacred objects, video and sound equipment, and damaged the interior of the church. When the parish priest, Don Ugo Berti, went to prepare for the first mass of the day at 6.30am he found the church door open. At first he thought it was an accident, but then he saw that the entrance had been forced open in several places. He quickly alerted the authorities. "I am afraid it was a theft on behalf of Satanists: the hosts could be used to celebrate black masses," the parish priest said.
Arson to Monastery in Stavronikita, Greece
January 8, 2024, GreeceOn January 8, the Holy Monastery of Stavronikita on Mount Athos suffered an arson attack. A 63-year-old man has been arrested, after being reported by one of the monks as the suspected perpetrator, and he confessed to being involved in the arson attack.
Arson to Church in Pula, Croatia
January 7, 2024, CroatiaOn January 7, unknown perpetrators started a fire in front of the church in Pula. As a witness reported, the vandals placed two burning boards in front of the large wooden door, which was quickly engulfed by the fire. The police have started an investigation and are looking for the perpetrators. The church held a mass on the same day to pray for the ones who committed the act.
Windows of St Jame's Church repeatedly smashed
January 5, 2024, United KingdomThe stained galss windows of St James's Church in west London have been repeatedly smashed accross five nights. In total, they have been broken through 16 times. In some cases the panes have been damaged, in others they have been completely destroyed.
Man caused £35,000 worth of damage to church windows
January 5, 2024, United KingdomOver the course of five nights, an individual repeatedly attacked St James' church in London, damaging virtually every panel of the church's window. Some panels have been completely destroyed, others badly damaged.
Nativity scene in Turin destroyed
January 4, 2024, ItalyOn January 4, the nativity scene and Christmas tree were destroyed in an act of vandalism in the 5th district of Turin. The president of the district, Enrico Crescimanno, announced that an investigation would be launched to identify the vandals. He also described the act as "a disgraceful gesture against the representation of the Nativity".
Statue of Infant Jesus thrown into Garda Lake
January 3, 2024, ItalyVandals attacked a Nativity scene in Salò, Italy. The figure of the Infant Jesus from the Nativity Scene of the local fire brigade was thrown into the Garda Lake between the 2nd and 3rd of January. The friends of the Salò fire brigade comment that "the baby Jesus was uprooted from his cradle and thrown into the waters in front of the site designated to house the Nativity." They also reported that the figure of St Joseph was also replaced.
Nativity scene Figures beheaded in Florence
January 2, 2024, ItalyEvery year dozens of nativity scenes are set up along the Via dei Presepi. This Christmas, one of them was found with eight out of ten human figures decapitated, as it was reported by the police on January 2nd. The figures of the animals were also damaged. The incident has been described as a "sacrilegious surgical act". This event was also communicated on social media by the councillor, Susi Giglioli.
Arson attack on St John the Evangelist church
January 1, 2024, United KingdomFire was set on St John the Evangelist church in Enfield. Forty firefighters were needed to extinguish the fire. It has been confirmed by the police that this was an arson attack. The fire started by the high altar and damaged stained-glass windows and artefacts.
Statue of Jesus from Nativity Scene Beheaded
January 1, 2024, ItalyOn January 1st, unknown vandals smashed the statue of the Child Jesus in Gorla Maggiore, Italy, in broad daylight. Mayor Pietro Zappamiglio expressed "great sadness and bitterness at what has happened." It is hoped that the vandals were caught on church cameras.
The statue of the Infant Jesus was decapitated in Alliste
December 31, 2023, ItalyIt was reported that on New Year's Eve, unknown perpetrators vandalised the nativity scene of the parish church of San Quintino in Alliste, targeting the statue of the infant Jesus. The parish priest commented: "An outburst by our children that should make us reflect".
Nativity Scene Vandalised with Blue Paint
December 31, 2023, GermanyOn January 4, a nativity scene was vandalised with blue paint outside the parish church of Großenbach-Hünfeld, Germany. The local community is shocked about the incident.
Via Crucis vandalised in Mavignola
December 31, 2023, ItalyIn the night from December 31 to January 1, unknown perpetrators have damaged the stations of the Via Crucis, defacing them and committing severe vandalism. According to the councilor of the Municipality of Pinzolo, Luca Vidi, the statue of Christ was stolen from the first of the stations of the cross. Other stations have been defaced with "unrepeatable slogans" against "the Church, Christianity and the Pope". "Some people are not educated as they should be, and there is no respect for the common heritage, ignoring the fact that it was created with everyone's efforts," the councillor commented.
Statue of Mary Vandalised for the Second Time
December 31, 2023, HungaryOn New Year's Eve a newly restored statue of Mary has been vandalised for the second time in Dunavecse, Hungary. Unknown perpetrators smashed the head of the statue and trampled its pieces.
Another Nativity scene vandalised in Italy
December 31, 2023, ItalyOn New Year's Eve, vandals destroyed the nativity scene in Campogalliano, Italy. The crib was built by local volunteers. Unknown vandals destroyed the figures and also damaged a nearby bus station.
Nativity Scene Vandalism: Statue of Infant Jesus destroyed
December 31, 2023, ItalyA statue of the infant Jesus of the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie was found destroyed on New Year's Eve. The figure was found with its arm and head cut off. The head is still missing. The village, which has only 198 inhabitants, is wondering who could have done such a thing.
Baby Jesus Figure Beheaded and torn into pieces
December 31, 2023, ItalyAs it was reported at the end of December 2023, the nativity scene in Piazza della Repubblica in Monfalcone, Italy, has been attacked. The statuette of baby Jesus was found decapitated and smashed to pieces. The police are investigating. The mayor, Anna Maria Christi, said that everything is being done to find those responsible.
Nativity scene destroyed in Rome
December 30, 2023, ItalyOn December 30, a nativity scene was destroyed in the Setticamini area of Rome, Italy. The crib was built by the citizens. The vandals "destroyed the face of Mary, they broke the hand of Saint Joseph, they tore down all the decorations and scattered them everywhere".
Arson attack on Maria Namen Church in Vienna
December 26, 2023, AustriaOn December 26, unknown perpetrators set fire to the entrance of Maria Namen Parish Church in the 16th district of Vienna, Austria. A construction site toilet, which had been placed at the entrance of the church due to current rennovations, has been set on fire and completely melted. Apparently, fire accelerants must have been used. The parish priest, Jesus David Jean Villalobos, suspects arson.
Baby Jesus Torn into Pieces By Young Vandals
December 26, 2023, ItalyIn Muggio, Italy, vandals damaged the Nativity scene by destroying first a sheep and later the statue of baby Jesus. The act was caught by the security camera and handed over to the police. Also, the parish priest of the Madonna del Castagno pastoral community, Don Maurizio Tremolada, published a video on his Facebook page showing the young people who entered the hut around 26 December and wrote a letter addressed to those who had destroyed the statue of the baby Jesus. In the letter, he invites the perpetrators to make up for their actions.
Nativity scene violently destroyed
December 24, 2023, ItalyOn Christmas Eve, street cameras caught a group of people damaging the nativity scene on the sqaure of Uboldo. The figures were "furiously kicked, punched and beaten". Someone also sat on the cradle and damaged it. The Major has announced that appropriate action will be taken.
Church Defaced with Paint just before Christmas
December 23, 2023, PolandOn December 23, three juvenile residents vandalised a church in Gostynin, Poland. The walls of the church was spray painted in blue. The tags show insults and possible slogans related to Catholicism. A police investigation was launched and the vandals were identified thanks to the city surveillance.