All cases
Passion Trail Vandalised
April 16, 2024, GermanyThe Passion Trail set up by the Evangelical Lutheran parish in Hagen-Haspe has been demolished. The path, which was lined with crosses and prayer texts, led along the forest path at Tücking.
Grave of Late Patriarch Neophyte Desecrated
April 15, 2024, BulgariaThe grave of the late Patriarch Neophyte was desecrated in Sofia, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church informed Tuesday morning, April 16.
Shouting Man Smashes Objects in Church
April 13, 2024, ItalyShortly after 6 pm, a 41-year-old man started shouting complaining about an alleged theft of a backpack. According to the police, he then entered the church in Via Felice Bellotti, the San Benedetto Monastery, in Milan’s city centre and started to hit commemorative wreaths and a statue, which he threw to the ground. The police intervened against the intoxicated man, who was charged with a criminal offence.
Church façade vandalised during mass
April 10, 2024, GermanyOn April 10, a young man threw several bottles filled with alcohol against the façade of the Catholic Sacred Heart Church in Diez during the church service at around 6 p.m, causing heavy soiling and property damage.
Theft and Arson in Church
April 10, 2024, ItalyAt the church of Castelvecchio di Compito in the Lucca region, a 37-year-old man stole objects worth over 10,000 euros from the oratory, which included liturgical objects dating back to the early 19th century such as two candelabra and a wooden canopy. He set fire to the parish premises and fled.
Vandalism at St. Athanasius Monastery Church
April 9, 2024, North MacedoniaThe church of St. Athanasius monastery in Tetovo has been broken in, all the windows were broken and serious material damage was done.
Fire and Vandalism at Roßwein Church
April 6, 2024, GermanyOn Saturday, April 6, unknown persons set fire to a memorial table of the Church in Roßwein and damaged the donation box.
Minors Set Altar on Fire
April 6, 2024, AustriaTwo Children, one of them a 12-year-old boy, set a fire to the Serbian Orthodox Church of Our Lady in Feldkirch causing considerable damage. After searching the unlocked donation boxes for cash, they set the cloth at the altar in the back of the church on fire endangering liturgical objects.
Vandalism and Theft in Den Bosch Church
April 6, 2024, NetherlandsBurglars broke into St. John's Cathedral in Den Bosch, smashed stained-glass windows, emptied a fire extinguisher inside the building and stole a time capsule intended to be opened in the year 2122.
Arson attack on French Church
April 4, 2024, FranceA fire broke out in the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Agneaux on Thursday afternoon, April 4. According to police investigation's initial findings, the fire was intentional.
Desecration of Mission Cross
April 4, 2024, PolandIn the Church of St. Maksymilian Maria Kolbe in Bogatynia, a Mission Cross was chopped down over night.
After Two Fires Church Temporarily Closed
April 3, 2024, FranceWithin 24 hours two fires hit the Saint-Serge Church in Angers. On April 2, the altar of the chapel of the Virgin Mary was set on fire. On the next day a fire broke out in front of the Saint-Ambroise statue. A suspect women was spotted and arrested by the police.
Church Smeared with Eggs, Glue and Dog Excrement
April 3, 2024, United KingdomRivertown Church in Shotton was subject to vandalism. Eggs were thrown at the rear door. Previously, glue and dog excrement were smeared on the same door. Furthermore, the church has seen damage to both locks and seats inside. In light of the church’s effort in running a community hub, the incident appears very distressing to volunteers and the church community.
Church starts dialogue project after severe vandalism
April 2, 2024, ItalyOn April 2, the parish priest of the St. Anthony's Oratory in Porto Mantovano, Trento, found the oratory severely vandalised. Next to smashed locks, broken doors and glass, damaged objects and furniture, there was dirt, a swastika and offensive writings on the floor. The incident, was only the latest in a series of vandalism attacks on the oratory. The priest therefore reached out to the community for help.
Liturgical clothings and procession flags stolen from church
March 31, 2024, GermanyOn March 31, a stole, procession flags and clothing were stolen from the Roman Catholic Church of the Assumption of Mary in Scheinfeld, Germany. The perpetrator was apparently hiding in the confessional during mass before stealing the objects. The man also damaged the confessional, which caused damage of approximately 200 euros.
Theft and Vandalism in two Portuguese Churches
March 29, 2024, PortugalIn the night of Good Friday, two churches in the Portuguese towns Golegã and Pombalinho were subjects to theft and vandalism.
Good Friday: Altar of Neuhaus church damaged with fire
March 29, 2024, GermanyAn unknown person damaged the altar in the Catholic Church in Neuhaus an der Pegnitz, Germany, on Good Friday, March 29. According to the police, the perpetrator apparently "held a candle to the altar in such a way that the wood and the altar cloth were damaged". Fortunately, the fire did not spread.
Vandalism at St John's Church Alresford
March 28, 2024, United KingdomIn the night before Maundy Thursday, Easter crosses and the noticeboard of Baptist St John's Church in Alresford were vandalised.
Suspected arson at church of of St Julia
March 21, 2024, FranceOn the morning of Thursday, 21 March 2024, a fire broke out in the church of Saint-Agathe and Saint-Julien in the village of Saint-Julia. The canvas burned and when the mayor, Christian Lagente, entered the church at around 10 am, everything was engulfed in smoke. The mayor made the first attempts to extinguish the fire before help arrived.
Bust of Christ Vandalised at Rennes Church
March 20, 2024, FranceA bust of Christ was vandalised and the church door damaged in Church of Saint-Germain in Rennes. The vandalism was discovered by the parish priest, Father Philippe Hebert, on March 20. The priest lodged a complaint the next day, investigations are ongoing.
Desecration of church in Reggino
March 19, 2024, ItalyThe church of San Giuseppe, in Melito Porto Salvo, in Reggino, was desecrated by unknown individuals. The perpetrators damaged the security cameras, forced entry into the church, stole the consecrated host and scatter the others. Furthermore, a sacred vessel was also taken.
Arson in St Benedict Church prevented by employee
March 19, 2024, GermanyAn unknown person set fire to a seat cushion and a shrub that were placed in the front area of the church in Eisenharz for the upcoming First Communion. The fire was extinguished by an employee, but the pew and shrub were damaged. Fortunately, no one was injured.
Vandalism in three churches
March 19, 2024, PolandOn March 19, the church Jana Pawła Street, Konstantynów, was vandalised. The perpetrator kicked a cross, damaged three windows and knocked over tables, pews, and kneelers. The cost of the damage amounts to PLN 5,000.
Organ Damaged in Waltrop Church
March 19, 2024, GermanyOn Tuesday, March 19, a fire extinguisher was emptied into the pipes of the organ in St Peter's Church.
Christian artist banned from her own exhibition after expressing concerns about puberty blockers
March 18, 2024, United KingdomVictoria Culf, a Christian artist, was reported to police and banned from her own exhibition after telling a Watford council worker, back in June 2023, that due to her Christian world view and as a mother she didn’t think children should transition. She is now taking legal action.
Ten statues and plaques in cemetery of Bovekerke vandalised
March 16, 2024, BelgiumOn March 16, the cemetery surrounding the church of Bovekerke (Koekelare) was vandalised. Approximately a dozen statues, ornaments, flowers, and memorial plaques had been destroyed. The affected graves are not all close together and often involve very old concessions. According to another resident, some crosses have also been removed from the graves.
"This is a Muslim area" smeared on Evangelical Church
March 16, 2024, United KingdomA radical muslim graffiti was spray-painted on the windows of Southchurch Christian Fellowship Centre on Saturday night, March 16. The graffiti, which read "This is a Muslim area", is now being investigated by Essex Police as racially aggravated criminal damage. Ms Champion, who discovered the vandalism, said: "To see someone committing such hateful behaviour is so heartbreaking. It makes me very angry. A colleague and I went to the church to remove the worst of it because we didn't want people to feel intimidated when they came to the Sunday service the next morning."
St John's Church in Herford remains closed due to vandalism
March 15, 2024, GermanyFor the past few months, incidents of vandalism and damages have occurred in the Neuer Markt church in the Herford district. The pews have repeatedly been pushed and knocked over, a curtain has been torn down, a large sign reading 'open church', which is usually located at the back of the church, has been removed and placed on the altar and leaflets removed from their displays and scattered around the room. Furthermore, there have been complaints in the past about unknown individuals leaving their excrement in the church. Although the number of incidents has decreased, faeces are unfortunately still occasionally discovered in the church.
Church and 50 graves desecrated with Islamist slogans
March 11, 2024, FranceDuring the night of March 11, acts of vandalism were committed in the cemetery of the village Clermont-d'Excideuil. Inscriptions with Islamic references were found on graves, the war memorial, the church door, a calvary memorial, and a fountain. Some of the tags read "France is already Allah's", "Isa will break the cross" and "Submit to Islam". Altogether, more than 50 graves were smeared.
18 churches pelted with eggs during the night
March 7, 2024, GermanyThe Lindenberg police department has solved a series of acts of vandalism that have kept the communities in the West Allgäu region on tenterhooks over the past few months. A total of 18 church doors and church façades were pelted with eggs by unknown persons during this period. The eggs were often painted black or labelled with red letters and numbers.
Objects from church art project stolen and vandalised
March 7, 2024, SwitzerlandIn recent weeks, unknown persons have stolen or vandalised five works from a church art project at the Heiliggeist Church Bern.
"Palestine" graffiti on Italian Church
March 5, 2024, ItalySan Benedetto church in Brindisi was found smeared with red paint. The ancient portal and another entrance of the church were smeared, and "Palestine" was written on the stairs.
Sant Antoni Abat Church smeared with red paint
March 3, 2024, SpainIn the early hours of March 3, the walls of the Sant Antoni Abat parish church have been smeared with red paint. The church is declared an Asset of Cultural Interest. The Sa Pobla Local Police have accused a group of six young people of the vandalism.
Damage to church entrance
March 1, 2024, GermanyOn March 1, an unknown perpetrator damaged the staircase in front of the Catholic parish in Waldsee, Germany, rendering it unusable for the public.
Suspected Arson at St Matthews Church
March 1, 2024, GermanyEarly on Friday morning, March 1, St Matthews Church in Berlin was the scene of several fires. The police suspect arson.
40 graves vandalised at cemetery in Fresselines
February 29, 2024, FranceOn February 29, a resident of Fresselines, on his way to the family crypt, discovered the unprecedented vandalism in the Creuse cemetery. Unknown perpetrators had desecrated around 40 graves: between some graves plates had been moved or broken, pots had been thrown to the ground. Some slabs had also been unscrewed and piled up on the ground. Stelae and plaques had been broken or moved.
18th century church in Pliego vandalised with graffiti
February 28, 2024, SpainAs reported on February 28, the walls of the Virgen de los Remedios Church in Pliego, Murcia, has been defaced with graffiti. The church, dating back to the 18th century, is a cultural asset. Two young people, one of them a minor, are suspected of the vandalism.
Arson in Carlsberg Church of the Holy Cross
February 26, 2024, GermanyOn February 26, the confessional in the Catholic Church of the Holy Cross was destroyed in a fire. According to the investigating authorities, a statue of a saint and a storage room were also damaged. A fire expert ruled out a technical defect on Friday, March 1, so the criminal investigation department in Neustadt is assuming arson.
Theft and excrement in the church of the Madonna dei Sette Dolori
February 26, 2024, ItalyOn February 26, thieves broke into the church of the Madonna dei Sette Dolori in Vasto and stole offerings from the donation box. The perpetrators furthermore left human excrement on the floor of the church. The parish priest expressed his shock and disgust about this gesture of degradation and disrespect.
Islamist graffiti on stone crosses
February 22, 2024, FranceIslamist graffiti was discovered on roadside “calver” stone crosses saying "Tomorrow this will be the land of Islam". this is not the first time: on Christmas night, Islamist vandals wrote "Allah" on the cross, and the other day they found the inscription "Today is the land of infidels".
Church vandalised with fire extinguisher
February 22, 2024, DenmarkBetween February 17 and 20 Spjellerup Church in the Danish region Sjælland was severely vandalised. The police believe that a perpetrator had emptied two fire extinguishers in the church, targeting the organ and the altar.
St. Johann parish church robbed and desecrated
February 20, 2024, AustriaUnknown perpetrators broke into the parish church of St. Johann in Tirol, Austria, and stole and damaged religious objects. The figure of Christ was broken off a wooden cross.
Vandalism at the Dreieichenhain castle church
February 20, 2024, GermanyUnknown people damaged the church on the Dreieichenhain castle grounds. According to the police's initial assessment, the historic side door was forced open with brute force. At the same time, the perpetrators broke a window to the right of the main entrance. This is not the first time there has been vanalism to the church.
Pauluskirche painted with "Allahu Akbar"
February 20, 2024, GermanyShortly after an anti-AfD (Alternative for Germany Party) demo took place on the forecourt, “Allahu Akbar” was daubed in Arabic script on the Protestant Pauluskirche in Hamm, Germany. In response to a news inquiry, the Hamm police confirmed the graffiti on February 20. However, no information can yet be provided about the perpetrator's profile. The investigation is ongoing.
Arson to St. Lambertus Church in Kalterherberg
February 18, 2024, GermanyUnknown perpetrators set fire to the parish church of St. Lambertus in Kalterherberg on Sunday. In the rear area of the interior of the church, prayer books, a shelf with parish letters and sheets from the Book of the Dead were set on fire in front of the wall with the memorial plaques. Opposite, at the Marian altar, the burning memorial lights were thrown down and artificial flowers were also lit.
St Stephen and All Martyrs entrance vandalised
February 18, 2024, United KingdomThe stone pinnacles from a church gate were stolen on the weekend of the church's 180th anniversary.
Vandalism to Major Cloister of St. Francis
February 17, 2024, ItalyDuring the night of February 17, the Major Cloister of St. Francis was smeared with spray cans in several places. The monastery has already been targeted several times by vandals.
Vandalism to St. Martinus Church
February 17, 2024, GermanyUnknown perpetrators spray painted the St. Martinus Church door with "666", "shame" and a swastika symbols in white paint. Police are currently investigating.
Attempted Break In leaves 2,000 euros of damage
February 16, 2024, GermanyA unknown perpetrator tried to break a window of the Catholic Mariä Himmelfahrt parish church to presumably get into the building. Awakened by the noise, the priest who lived in the house discovered the attempted break-in and spoke to the unknown person, whereupon he immediately fled on foot towards the train station.
"Religion of Lies" Sprayed on Loosdorf Church
February 15, 2024, AustriaUnknown perpetrators daubed the walls of the Loosdorf parish church with the words “Religion of Lies”. On another wall vandals had sprayed the words “Sol invictus”, meaning "undefeated sun god".