All cases

Arson attempt in Tyumen

June 3, 2024, Russia

On June 3, a 43-year-old man tried to set fire on the Dmitry Donskoy Church Tyumen. He threw incendiary mixtures and fled on his bicycle, as filmed by an eyewitness. The police have now detained the man. The motives are still unknown.

Vandalism in Freren

June 2, 2024, Germany

Sometime between May 31 and June 2, unknown perpetrators caused considerable damage to the staircase of the protestant church St. Andreas und Vitus in Freren. The sandstone slabs on the staircase were destroyed. The damage is estimated to be around 2000 EUR. This is not the first incident in this church.

Vandals urinate into the holy water fountain of Strasbourg church

May 31, 2024, France

On the morning of May 31, the priest of Saint-Maurice Church in Strasbourg observed that some people had urinated into the holy water fountain near the entrance. This is not the first incident in this church. There have been a series of thefts and other incivilites over several months.

Vandalism of Chapel in Tawern

May 31, 2024, Germany

On May 31, unknown perpetrators knocked down two historical statues of saints and the Stations of the Cross in Margarethen Chapel Tawern causing severe damage. The head of the statue of Peter was broken and three reliefs of the Stations of the Cross were torn down from the wall.

Scotland: Most extreme buffer zone law passes first stage

May 30, 2024, United Kingdom

The Scottish draft legislation on abortion "buffer zones", which was passed at first stage on April 30, has sparked a debate on the criminalisation of silent prayer in these zones. This bill proposes the creation of a zone extending to 200 meters around abortion clinics in which "influencing" someone in regard to abortion would be illegal. In a parliament debate MSP Jeremy Balfour asked if he would be criminalised for praying at a bus stop inside the zone. He tabled an amendment seeking to exclude silent prayer from the criminal actions within the zone. MSP Gillian Mackay who introduced the Bill responded to Mr Balfour by saying: "If nobody knows someone is praying, and nothing in their conduct is capable of having the effects on women or staff that this Bill seeks to prevent, then it is unlikely that any offence could be committed. If someone stands silently praying for a long time, deliberately looking at women accessing an abortion clinic, or for example with a sign, then they may be committing an offence."

Fire in Pagnano Church

May 30, 2024, Italy

On May 30, a fire broke out in the church of San Giorgio in Pagnano. Fortunately, the damage is minimal, since the fire which had started from a wooden candle holder was immediately extinguished. While the cause of the fire is currently unknown the priest suspects that someone had deliberately started the fire, since the candle holder was only used to store unlit candles and it was empty. Also, no signs of melted wax were found.

Church in Faubourg-Bonnefoy severely vandalised

May 30, 2024, France

On 30th May, the Immaculate Conception church in Toulouse was heavily vandalised by unknown perpetrators. Several objects, boards and furniture were broken and overturned, causing severe damage. Although the altar is located in a protected area behind bars, it was also overturned and severely damaged. The head of the statue of Virgin Mary was covered with a blue cloth.

Man steals statue of Jesus from church

May 29, 2024, Italy

In the early morning of May 29, in the Santissima Addolorata church in Taranto, a man was caught on camera, carrying a statue of Jesus on his shoulder, which he had taken from the church. The police were able to track down the perpetrator, a 28-year-old convicted felon. He had already been under house arrest, during which he had escaped to steal the statue.

Vandalism of altar in Siedliska

May 29, 2024, Poland

On May 29 at night, unknown perpetrators destroyed decorations on the altar prepared for the Corpus Christi procession in Siedliska. They also tore down decorative trees attached to the Christian community centre, and damaged the stairs of the building. Furthermore, the contents of two garbage bins were spilt next to the altar.

Chapel defaced with Islamic graffiti

May 29, 2024, Slovenia

On May 29, a chapel at the crossroads of Zagrad and Leše, in the municipality of Prevalje, Slovenia, was found defaced with graffiti. Unknown perpetrators wrote the word "Allah" in big letters with red paint on the walls of the chapel.