All cases

Historical Church vandalised in Lützenkirchen

June 1, 2021, Germany

Unknown perpetrators defaced an over 300-year-old church in Leverkusen in Germany. The culprits are responsible for graffiti sprayed on the chapel's walls, signs scratched into the bricks, holes drilled into the copper downpipes and traces of fire found on the massive oak door at the chapel's side entrance.  Additionally, the vandals have damaged a monument at the Anna Chapel. Karl Georg Emmels, former church council estimates the damage to be several thousand Euros. A reward of 500 Euros for information leading to the culprit has been offered and the police are investigating. 

Vandalism and Attempted Robbery in a Church in Nicotea

June 1, 2021, Italy

The little church of Santa Chiara in Nicotera has been vandalized by unknown persons. A hole was found in the wall of the sacristy although the intentions behind these attempts are unclear. As the neighbors explained, "there is nothing to steal here, nothing of particular value". The incident actually took place at the beginning of the summer but it was discovered much later given that the church remains closed most part of the year. The police are carrying on an investigation to track down the perpetrators.

Italy: Teenagers desecrated church, later apologize to avoid police charges

May 31, 2021, Italy

Four teenage girls were caught by the church's CCTV cameras while entering and desecrating the place. The sanctuary Porto di Legnago in Verona, Italy did not press any charges against the perpetrators. The camera caught them entering the church at around 1 p.m., they are seen tearing off the rosary beads from a statue and defacing a board near the entrance of the church. The parish priest, Don Moreno Roncoletta, used his Facebook page to invite the perpetrators to apologise to the church unless they wanted the video footage to be handed over to the police. After being shared more than 1,700 times the perpetrators came forward and apologised to the sanctuary. Father Moreno considers the case closed and is not pressing any charges.

Radical Left Groups Violently Attacked Public Catholic Procession in Paris

May 30, 2021, France

On 30 May, a public Catholic procession in Paris, commemorating the city’s 19th-century martyrs, was violently attacked by several radical left groups. From the beginning on the procession was accompanied by interruptive whistling and booing. Soon the verbal attacks became physically violent. Flags were torn down and even heavy object thrown at them. The perpetrators also started to kick and punch participants of the procession, one elderly man was knocked to the ground suffering serious head injuries that needed to be stitched. The procession was then blocked by around 50 demonstrators and the police asked the believers to take refuge in a near by church until the situation was under control again. The police are investigating.

Twenty Graves Destroyed in the Cemetery La Ronde

May 30, 2021, France

More than 20 graves have been ransacked in the communal cemetery of La Ronbe during the night of 7th and 8th May. The plaques and flowers were destroyed. The police opened an investigation

News article: Scotland: Churches to receive fund for more security

May 29, 2021, United Kingdom

Churches in Scotland are going to profit from a fund that aims to protect places of worship, which are particularly at risk of religiously motivated attacks. The Scottish Government provides a total sum of £500,000 in their Hate Crime Security Fund for security measures. Places of particular risk are eligible for 100 per cent funding. The fund opened in May and is thought to run for two months. Providing support by the end of September. Places of worship can receive up to £20,000 in funding to install security measures. Scotlands parliamentary officer at the Chrisitan public policy charity CARE, Michael Veitch commented: "In recent years, there have been alarming attacks on places of worship in Scotland including churches, synagogues, and mosques. This money will enable congregations to install security measures to act both as a deterrent to criminals and a reassurance to worshippers. Whilst the maximum grant available to individual places of worship is less than in England, the fact that 100 per cent grants are to be provided to the most at-risk settings is especially welcome. We hope that this assistance for places of worship will become a regular feature in Scottish Government budgets.We also call on Ministers to send a strong message that religiously-motivated hatred has no place in modern Scotland including hatred against Christians, which often receives less media coverage."

Vandals Desecrated 'Way of the Cross' in Verona

May 29, 2021, Italy

Vandals have violated the Way of the Cross leading to the Cemetery in Pizzoletta, near Verona. Although the stolen plates are neither valuable nor ancient, they carry religious and ideational value for the community. The act of vandalism and theft happened just a few days after the Way of the Cross has been restored. During the pandemic, the Way of the Cross, which encompasses fourteen stations, had suffered various attacks. It is unclear if the case has been reported to the police.

Attempted Fire and Acts of Vandalism in the Church of Aytré

May 29, 2021, France

In the end of April, the church of Aytré, in Charente-Maritime near La Rochelle has been a victim of an attempted arson. Unknown perpetrators have burnt doilies as well as a box of matches. The motives remain unknown and a complain has been filled to the police

Christian Female Preacher Arrested after Speech at Speakers' Corner

May 28, 2021, United Kingdom

Hatun Tash a Christian and a regular speaker at the Speakers' Corner, has been arrested after questioning the Islamic faith. Police officers who were asked to come in to protect the speaker, decided to arrest Hatun after a mob of Muslims started threatening her. A video released on YouTube shows Mohammad Hijab, the leader of the antagonistic group who threatened Hatun, spreading hate speech against world politicians and Israel, threatening police officers and threatening to kill Jews and Christians. It is unclear why the Police arrested Hatun instead of Hijab.

Consecrated Hosts Stolen from Church in Pisa

May 28, 2021, Italy

Sometime between 27 and 28, May thieves have entered the church of San Michele Degli Scalzi in Italy. They broke into the tabernacle and have taken the sacred hosts. Don Lorenzo, the parish priest, noticed that the closing flap was slightly out of place and when he approached the tabernacle, he saw the theft and reported it to the police. The hosts did not have a material value, however, they have spiritual value for the religious community. Surveillance cameras might have caught the thieves. The Police are investigating.