Church Nativity Desecrated and Parishioners Threatened
Police detained a man after he disrupted a Catholic service by removing nativity figures, striking the altar, profaning liturgical garments, shouting in Arabic through the church microphone, and attempting to attack parishioners before being restrained outside.
On December 8, 2025, police in Málaga, Spain detained a man of Maghrebi origin after he disrupted worhship at the Santa Rosa de Lima church. According to witnesses and police reports, the man removed figures from the nativity display, struck the altar table with a liturgical instrument, briefly locked himself in the sacristy, and then emerged wearing a priest’s chasuble before shouting in Arabic through the altar microphone.
Witnesses reported that he threatened and attempted to attack parishioners before fleeing with the figures. One attendee told officers, “He went straight to the nativity and began shouting violently,” while another added, “We tried to stop him, but he reacted aggressively.” A bystander restrained the man outside the church until police arrived. Authorities classified the incident as public disorder and are investigating whether the act was premeditated or linked to personal circumstances.
Sources: Ok Diario, El Periódico
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