All cases

Filtered by: Vandalism (form of hate crime)

Creche Vandalized in Aix-en-Issart

December 27, 2015, France

Mayor Pierre La Fonte was awakened at 2am by the police, who reported that the creche in a public square had been vandalized.

Religious Statues Spray-Painted at Site Dedicated to the Virgin Mary

December 27, 2015, France

Several religious statues, among which Jesus Christ was central, as well as a commemorative plaque and the floor were all spray painted red in a grotto altar in Libaux.

Church of Saint-Martin-sur-Ocre Tagged

December 26, 2015, France

In Loiret, a church was tagged with vulgar and insulting slogans ("Nique Jesus"), as well as "Allahu Akbar" during the night of December 26-27th.

Statue of Jesus Destroyed on St. Stephen's Day

December 26, 2015, Italy

In Albino, on December 26, 2015, the crib outside the parish church of San Giuliano containing the statue of the infant Jesus was targeted.

Fire Completely Destroys City Manger Scene

December 25, 2015, Spain

The manger scene in the municipality of Villa del Prado (Madrid) was completely destroyed by a fire on December 25th at 4am.

Two of Thirteen Creche Installations Burned in Masevaux

December 24, 2015, France

The first creche was damaged by fire on the night of December 22nd and the second, including the ornaments and figures, was completely destroyed by fire on December 24th.

Public Nativity Scene Attacked by Vandals in Pamplona

December 24, 2015, Spain

On December 24th, the morning of Christmas Eve, vandals toppled and damaged figures in the enormous nativity scene, which is installed every year in a public park.

Tabernacle Vandalized in French Church

December 18, 2015, France

Father Louis Villoutreys reported on Twitter that a tabernacle in l’église Saint-Vincent in Naintré was vandalized by unknown perpetrators.

National Association of Assyrians in Sweden Victim of Arson

December 16, 2015, Sweden

The association's headquarters in the city of Södertälje was completely destroyed during the night between the 16th to 17th of December.

Theft from Creche in Hauts-de-Seine

December 14, 2015, France

A statue of the Virgin of Fatima, given to the parish of Sainte-Bernadette de Chaville by the Portuguese community, was stolen on December 14th.

Creche Vandalized in la Grand-Place de Bruxelles

December 13, 2015, Belgium

Three people aged 20, 21 and 24 were arrested after they vandalized the manger of the Grand-Place during the night from Saturday to Sunday. In addition to damaging the structure, they stole the figure of the baby Jesus and threw it on the ground.

Church Vandalized in Verviers, in the province of Liege

December 13, 2015, Belgium

The church Sainte-Julienne, which had previously been tagged with spray paint, was again vandalized as a window was broken by rocks being thrown.

Church Bells Destroyed in French Chapel

December 13, 2015, France

Vandals broke into the locked chapel of Saint-Hervé-Ménez Bré in Pédernec and rang the church bells so hard that one of them is irreparably broken while the other, off-axis from its support, is stuck.

Fire Investigated at Collegiate Church of Saint-Junien

December 7, 2015, France

Upon his arrival at the church, the priest discovered three small fires in separate parts of the church.

Website of the Diocese of Bayonne, Lescar and Oloron Hacked

December 1, 2015, France

According to reports, this was a targeted hacking.

Seventh Cemetery in 18 Months Desecrated by Vandals

December 1, 2015, France

This time, thirteen crucifixes were torn from their graves and were thrown to the ground, broken, or planted upside down.

Second Ukrainian Orthodox Church Desecrated in Same Town

November 29, 2015, Other

A new church dedicated to Our Lady of Iveron, in the town of Rokitno in the Rovno region (Western Ukraine), was desecrated by vandals.

Cemetery Crucifixes Uprooted and Planted Upside Down

November 29, 2015, France

Acts of vandalism were discovered on December 1st in the cemetery of Villiers-le-Sec, between Creully and Courseulles-sur-Mer, France.

Spanish "Artist" Claims to Have 32 New Consecrated Hosts, Some Stolen by "Fans" during Reparation Mass

November 28, 2015, Spain

Abel Azcona announced he has 32 new consecrated Hosts stolen by fans who went to different Masses to get them.

Church Vandalized; Damage Estimate: € 800

November 25, 2015, France

Two copper gutter-pipes were stolen from the church of Gironde-sur-Dropt on the night of November 25. The damage is estimated at € 800. A complaint was filed at the police station of La Role and an investigation has been opened.

Spanish Artist Stole and Desecrated over 200 Consecrated Hosts

November 23, 2015, Spain

As part of an exhibit, Abel Azcona placed the hosts on the ground in a public art gallery to form the word “Pederasty".

Ukrainian Orthodox Church Plundered and Desecrated

November 22, 2015, Other

The perpetrators stole money from the cash register of the church, and lit fires in five different locations in the building.

Thieves Destroyed a Parish Church in Pajarillos, Spain

November 21, 2015, Spain

They stole a tabernacle, ciborium, chalices, patens, a candelabrum, and some of the sound equipment from the Church of San Ignatius of Loyola

Theft in Small 16th Century Chapel

November 19, 2015, France

A late 15th century wooden statue of St. Nicolas was stolen from the church of Saint-Léger-sous-Margerie.

Church Vandalized in Poitiers, France

November 13, 2015, France

The devastation at the Church of Saint-Cyprian was discovered by a parishioner. A large concrete statue of the Virgin Mary located at the church entrance was thrown to the ground and irreparably broken.

Tasmania's Anti-Discrimination Commissioner to Investigate Catholic Church's Marriage Pamphlet

November 12, 2015, Other

Transgender politician, Martine Delaney, lodged an anti-discrimination complaint in September and on November 12, the commissioner announced it will begin investigation.

Spanish Church Vandalized with Arabic Graffiti; Holy Objects Destroyed

November 2, 2015, Spain

The unknown perpetrators broke into the Church of our Lady of Carmen in the Spanish town of Rincon de la Victoria, Andalusia, smashed wooden statues of the Virgin Mary and Jesus on the cross, and spray painted "Allah" on the wall.

Serious Arson Attack against "Demo für Alle"

November 1, 2015, Germany

The Magdeburg business office of "Demo für Alle", a group which advocates against gender ideology and the sexualization of children, was torched by unknown perpetrators.

Graves Vandalized in Mazères

November 1, 2015, France

On All Saints Day, a solemnity celebrated by Catholics and some Protestants, visitors to the Mazères cemetery discovered five graves, including a central cross, sprayed with orange paint with references to "Satanists", among others.

Fourth Act of Vandalism Against Notre-Dame-du-Rocher in Saint-Hippolyte (Haut-Rhin)

October 28, 2015, France

Earlier vandalism led to the replacement of the statue of the Virgin Mary last spring. In mid-September the arms of the statue were broken and glued back together. On October 28, the statute was broken off its base.

Desecration at Baden-Baden "Autobahn" Church

October 23, 2015, Germany

The altar, tabernacle, and pews of the nationally-known church were desecrated by swastikas and other Nazi symbols carved into the wood, and acid poured onto the stone.

Christian Converts Harassed at Swedish Asylum Center

October 20, 2015, Sweden

A Pakistani couple had to leave the shelter in Western Sweden where they were staying after harassment by some of the Muslims in the housing ended with the husband's name sprayed on a wall near their room calling for his death.

Vandalism at Catholic School in Vienna

October 15, 2015, Austria

Graffiti of two "Antifa" signs and one anarchy symbol seen on a pillar of Catholic student parish event centre and dormitory.

Statue of Virgin Mary Decapitated in Aisne

October 15, 2015, France

The mayor was informed of this vandalism on October 15. The statue, beloved by the citizens of the small town, was erected on Aug. 14, 1960 as act of gratitude for a priest who was in a serious motorcycle accident at that location, but was unhurt.

Statue of Virgin Mary Decapitated in Aisne

October 15, 2015, France

The mayor was informed of this vandalism on October 15. The statue, beloved by the citizens of the small town, was erected on Aug. 14, 1960 as act of gratitude for a priest who was in a serious motorcycle accident at that location, but was unhurt.

Madrid Church Vandalized

October 14, 2015, Spain

The outside of the church of the Virgen del Alba de Alcorcón was vandalized by individuals who soiled the facades and access steps as well as the bulletin boards.

Serious Desecration and Theft at the Chapelle d’Effiat à Montrichard (Loir-et-Cher)

October 14, 2015, France

On the morning of October 14, the Tabernacle was forced open and the Ciborium containing ten consecrated Hosts was stolen.

Assyrian Christians in Gothenburg Threatened: "Convert or Die"

October 13, 2015, Sweden

Assyrian Christians living in Sweden have been targeted with a string of threatening messages, including demands that they “convert or die.”

Fire in French Church Investigated

October 13, 2015, France

A fire in the church of La Baume-de-Transit in Southern Drôme damaged furniture.

Barcelona Parish Tagged with Abortion Message

October 9, 2015, Spain

The vandalism from the 9th of October at the Parroquia del Espírito Santo was reported to El Observatorio para la Libertad Religiosa y de Conciencia.

Chapel in Charleroi the Victim of Thieves

October 8, 2015, Belgium

Thieves dismantled and carried away the metal roof of the Chapel of Saint-Joseph de Charleroi.

French Chapel Sacked by Vandals

October 8, 2015, France

La Chapelle du Champ Fleuri in Masny, was the victim of desecration: The altar was overturned, the organ in pieces, Communion wafers littered the ground, a statue of the Virgin Mary, venerated by Catholics as the mother of Jesus, was decapitated, and liturgical vestments were burned

French Church Desecrated and Vandalised

October 4, 2015, France

Intruders into the church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul in Blanzy damaged the Tabernacle by attempting to force open the door, damaged the organ, and set fire to the statue of the Virgin Mary.

Arson in Normandy Church

October 2, 2015, France

L'église Sainte-Croix de Saint-Lô was the victim of arson on Friday, October 2, 2015. The entry display was torched and it took 10 firefighters and 4 fire engines to combat the blaze.

French Church Desecrated

September 19, 2015, France

In the afternoon of Saturday, September 19, 2015, the church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul d’Habas (Landes) was badly vandalized. Various liturgical objects were desecrated: the altar was stained by food, crosses inverted, missals torn. The entire church was degraded with scattered flowers, candles, sheets of paper and posters torn. A complaint with the police was filed.

All Sacred Objects Stolen from French Chapel

September 18, 2015, France

A small chapel in Le Brethon, France, was robbed of all of its sacred objects during the week from Monday 14 to Friday, September 18. The few sacred objects it housed have all disappeared, namely, a processional cross, statuettes, votive offerings and all of the crosses. Additionally, a painting of Mary Magdalene, donated by an amateur painter was also stolen. Because of the isolated location of the chapel, and that it is always open to the public, officials have not been able to determine exactly when the theft occurred.

Burnt Confessional Investigated in L'Ile-Bouchard

September 18, 2015, France

A confessional in the church Saint-Gilles de L’Ile-Bouchard (France) was burned and the organ was damaged on the 18th of September.

Swiss Evangelical Party's Office Attacked for Supporting Pro-Life Demonstration

September 16, 2015, Switzerland

The Zurich offices of the Swiss Evangelische Volkspartei (EVP) as well as the Swiss Evangelical Alliance and humanitarian organisations Tearfund and Opportunity were attacked by vandals.

French Church is Victim of Repeated Vandalism

September 16, 2015, France

L’église Saint-Martin in Sangatte, France is yet again a victim of vandalism. On September 16th, a volunteer at the Blanc-Nez Pentecostal parish returned to Saint-Martin to close the doors for the evening and immediately discovered smoke emerging from the church. She also noticed broken candles littering the ground and that small decorations were taken down. Thick smoke surrounded the altar of wood and marble, and it was apparent that the small fire could have easily spread to the wooden furniture and carpets, completely destroying the church.

Bremen Church the Victim of Burglary, Desecration and Vandalism

September 15, 2015, Germany

Unknown perpetrators broke into the St. Pius Church and stole the tabernacle with consecrated Hosts, offertory boxes, and sprayed fire extinguishing powder all over the inside of the church.