All cases
"God doesn't exist" graffiti sprayed on Mendigorría church
January 6, 2024, SpainOn the eve of Epiphany, the church in Mendigorría, Spain, was spray-painted with two graffiti reading "God does not exist".
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.
ISIS issues global call to kill Jews and Christians
January 4, 2024, InternationalOn Thursday, January 4, the IS militia once again claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack in Kerman, Iran. It also issued a global call to attack Jews and Christians, particularly in Europe and the US. In a recorded message, the spokesperson of ISIS, Abu Huzaifa Al-Ansari, urged extremist Islamists to kill "Christians, Jews and their allies in the streets of Europe, the United States and the world." He also specifically called for targeting churches.
Recidivist thief arrested for church burglary
January 4, 2024, PolandIn Łomża, Poland, a 28-year-old man was arrested. In December, he "broke the display case of the painting of Our Lady of Częstochowa and stole the decorations from inside".
Cross in Tarnów vandalised
January 4, 2024, PolandA roadside cross with a figure of Christ was found vandalised in Tarnów, Poland. The corpus on the cross has been severely 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 Jesus stolen from Nativity Scene - and Returned
January 4, 2024, ItalyOn New Year's Eve, the the statue of Infant Jesus was stolen from a nativity shrine on Umberto I Square in Orbassano, near Turin. However, on January 4 the statue reappeared on the steps of St. John the Baptist Parish with a letter of apology: "I apologise for the stupid gesture. Please put it back where it belongs. Thank you".
Arson attack on Lutheran church in Halle
January 3, 2024, GermanyOn January 3, a Lutheran church in Halle, Germany, was set on fire. The police assume it was an arson attack. "Witnesses became aware of the fire at the entrance to the church and were able to prevent the fire from spreading further", said the police spokesperson. As a result of the arson attack, the entrance door is damaged. The police is investigating the case.
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.
Cologne Cathedral Terrorist Attack Plot uncovered
January 2, 2024, GermanyA plot to bomb Cologne's Catholic cathedral has been uncovered by police. "The attack was to have been carried out with a car packed with explosives," the local media announced. As a result of the plot, five men were arrested between 26 and 31 December, all of them allegedly linked to Islamic extremists. The Cologne police spokesman said that the police would maintain security at the cathedral.
Nativity Scene in Jastrzebie Destroyed
January 2, 2024, PolandBetween 1 and 2 January, the Jastrzębie-Zdrój Municipal Police Station received a report concerning devastation of a nativity scene. Four figurines were damaged and another two figurines were stolen and then destroyed by smashing, officers said.
Statue of Jesus stolen from Nativity Scene
January 2, 2024, FranceIn the church of Saint-Etienne de Faux-la-Montagne, the figure of the Christ Child was stolen from the crib of the nativity scene. The theft was discovered by the parish priest on 2 January.
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 to 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.
Burglar robs church and damages valuable statue
January 1, 2024, PolandOn New Year's Day, a man stole money from a church in Sopot, Poland. During the robbery he broke a valuable figure worth more than 1,000 PLN.
Vandals smash 25 windows at church
January 1, 2024, Germany25 windows of St John's Church in Salzhausen were damaged by vandals at the beginning of January. Unknown persons had smashed the windows with fist-sized rocks and caused damage of 42,000 euros.
Sacred objects stolen from Kassel church
December 31, 2023, GermanySacred objects were stolen from the chapel of the Apostles of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Kassel, Germany, on 31 December, according to police. The thieves also caused damage to the church. The identity of the burglars is unknown and the police are still looking for witnesses.
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".