All cases

Vandals Desecrated Church in Xanthi

September 2, 2020, Greece

The Chapel of St. Alexander was desecrated by unknown vandals in Xanthi, Greece, in the first week of September. The vandals scratched the faces of the Saints and Icons. The exact time of vandalism is unknown.

Series of Thefts in Churches and Diocesan Office

September 2, 2020, France

It is not the first time that the Grignan church has witnessed a theft or degradations of the crib. Two years ago, the trunk, contained between 200 and 300 euro, has been stolen. The church in Châtellerault has been target of thefts for years. On March 4, a 53-old man was filmed breaking the lock on the trunk with a pair of wire cutters and stole the contents of the offerings of the faithful from the church of Saint-Marie d'Ozon. On 2nd September, two men robbed a diocesan office in Vieux Lyon. On 30 August, the church of Plounéour-Ménez in Finistère was a victim of an attempted theft. A statue of Saint Thomas was pulled by a robe from the car of three unknown perpetuators.

Vandalism and Insults on Catholic School

September 2, 2020, France

On the night of the 2nd of September, the catholic School Saint-Louis/Saint-Bruno was vandalized with a Nazi Symbol of a Swastika on the wall. There was also the inscription "School of crime". Another swastika was also found on the wall of the elementary school in the same area. The inscriptions were erased before the students arrived and the police came to investigate crime.

Attempt to Burn Down the Church and a Man was Beaten Up

September 1, 2020, Sweden

On 28th August at night, there was a riot in Ronneby that caused a devastation in the city. Naem Sufan was beaten in the middle of the riot as he tried to prevent angry protesters from going to the Holy Cross church. The protesters tried to burn the church, but Naem Sufan extinguished the fire with his jacket. He had injuries in his shoulder and neck. Afterwards the rioters went to the city center and threw stones at the police. Riots started after a Koran burning in Malmö. This happened on the same night as a vehicle used for charitable purposes was burned.

Vandalism and Burglary in Arzheim Church

September 1, 2020, Germany

On the night of Sunday 30th August to Monday, unknown perpetrators broke into the protestant Church St. Aldegundis in Koblenz-Arzheim through the second floor. The basement window was smashed and food and wine from the church were consumed in the cellar.

Congress Center in Winterthur Refused Hosting March for Life Event Fearing Radical Left Violence

September 1, 2020, Switzerland

The congress center "gate27" in Winterthur withdrew the right to hospitality from the Swiss pro-life association "Marsch fürs Läbe", which had planned to host a substitute event for the March of Life on September 19th. An estimated 400 to 1,000 unauthorized counter-protestors were expected to attempt to block the event, causing the police to give out serious warnings about the danger of violent left-wing extremist attacks. The organizers of Marsch fürs Läbe regret the restriction of freedom of speech and assembly caused by left-wing extremist threats and filed a complaint.

Break In in Church in Aschaffenburg, Germany

September 1, 2020, Germany

During the time between the 1st September and the 7th October, unknown perpetrators broke-in in a Church in Aschaffenburg. They damaged the church. The police is still looking for witnesses and clues.

Sacrilegious Vandals Damaged in Monteu da Po Church

August 31, 2020, Italy

On the night from 30th to 31st August, the churchyard of the parish church of Monteu da Po was vandalized. Vandals left pizza boxes, leftovers of food, paper cups in the churchyard, and beer bottles with broken glass in front of the access to the sacred building. The priest Piero Massaglia expressed his desolation and great annoyance since this is not the first time this happens.

Man Attacked Priest During Mass and Torn the Pages of the Bible

August 30, 2020, Germany

On the 30th August, during a Sunday Mass in St. Joseph's Church in Berlin, a man attacked a priest and desecrated the church. The witnesses recalled that the man was sitting quietly, until he stood up and spat on the ground. He then walked towards the sanctuary of the church while murmuring anti-religious statements and punched the 61-year-old priest, who was knocked to the ground. The attacker took the Bible afterwards and torn several pages from it. While the brother of the priest tried to aid the victim, he was also knocked down with the Bible. The attacker fled unrecognized and the crime is being investigated by the police.

Attempted Burglary in Church

August 30, 2020, Germany

Between Friday night and Saturday morning, unknown persons tried to break into a Catholic Church. They unlocked a glass panel with a cobblestone. The burglars realized afterwards that they would not be able to enter the church any further this way and got away.