All cases
Vandalism of Painting with Knife in Cathedral of Freiburg
October 18, 2020, SwitzerlandA painting in the St. Nikolaus Cathedral in Freiburg was vandalized on October 18th. The painting with the title "Adoration of the Three Wise Kings" was cut through with a knife. The sacristan, Pierre Ferault, says it is the first time he witnesses such an act of vandalism. The damage is estimated to be between 5000 to 10000 Francs, as the painting is over 150 years old. The police was notified and started an investigation.
March for Life Interrupted by Counter-Demonstrators Insulting and Stereotyping Christians
October 17, 2020, AustriaOn October 17th, counter-demonstrators interrupted the March for Life in Vienna by blocking streets, which led to serval changes of the originally planned route. The counter-demonstrators also verbally and physically insulted the participants of the march with vulgar expressions and gestures. They also held up highly insulting banners like:"If Mary would have aborted, we would have been spared of you." Additionally, the counter-demonstrators held up flags against homophobia, stereotyping Christians as homophobic, despite the fact that the march was not about LGBTQ+ issues but the protection of the unborn life.
Repeated Vandalism With Graffiti at Church of San Giacomo
October 17, 2020, ItalyThe walls of the church of San Giacomo in Tarquinia was tagged with Graffiti the week before October 17th. On October 17th the church walls were tagged again expanding the vandalism. Mayor Giulivi of Tarquinia already ordered to clean the walls and called the incident an "uncivilized act against an entire community." He also want to install CCTV at the church for better surveillance.
Unknown Perpetrator Vandalized Church with Graffiti Allegedly Sending Messages as Jesus Christ
October 17, 2020, GermanyDuring the night of Saturday 17th October, an unknown vandal smeared with neon-green paint the exterior walls on the facade of the Church St Maria in Niederhall up to the Bus Station nearby. The messages allegedly would be from Jesus, the Son of God. The damage caused is at least of 12000 Euros for property damage. The police is asking for clues or witnesses.
Singer of March for Life Physically Attacked and Robbed
October 17, 2020, AustriaThe singer Vero, a young Christian women, who sang at the March for Life in Vienna on October 17th, was physically attacked after her performance on stage. On her way home she went to pick up her bicycle and was harassed by two female antifa activists, who grabbed her bicycle and tried to steal it from her, the two perpetrators also kicked the singer's leg. They finally stole the bicycle, after a loud outcry to the surrounding police officers the two activists were caught and charged with theft and physical violence. The police has indicated that the prosecutor will bring this case forward, as a hate crime.
Smashed Window and Break In at Church is Mosbach
October 16, 2020, GermanyDuring the night of the 17th of October, an unknown vandal broke the window and entered into the Church Christuskirche in Mosbach. He didn't steal anything, but left damage in the amount of 500 Euros because of the broken window. It is suspected that the same person also broke in into the sports place on the same night.
Christian Posters With Bible Verses Outside a Church Torn Off Several Times
October 15, 2020, SwitzerlandOn the 15th of October, it was reported that the two posters outside the Catholic Church at the Kreuzstrasse in Uster were torn off repeatedly. In the posters reads "God is faithful", "Pay attention to your thoughts" and "Avoiding evil is insight", which are taken from the bible. The campaign is run by an interdenominational Christian association.
Arson in Church of Quarndorn Caused Damage on Exterior Wall and Windows
October 15, 2020, United KingdomDuring the night of October 15th, a fire was set at the exterior wall and the windows of St. Paul's church in Quarndorn. The fire damaged the wall and windows but did not spread further. The police is asking for help. A 17-year-old teenager has been arrested as suspect.
Windows Smashed at Church in Kleinkahl
October 15, 2020, GermanyOn October 15th, a church in Kleinkahl was vandalized during the week. An unknown perpetrator damaged one church window and another window at the rectory of the church throwing stones. The damage is approximately 300 euros. The police is looking for witnesses.
Theft and Vandalism in Church of Coswig
October 15, 2020, GermanyUnknown perpetrators forcefully broke into a Church in Coswig during the night of October 15th and stole two silver-plated candlesticks, which are estimated to have a value of 5.000 Euros. Apart from the theft the vandalism is estimated to have caused a damage of an additional 2.00 Euros. The police is investigating.
Midnight Fire at St. Matthew's Church Treated as Arson
October 15, 2020, United KingdomIn the early morning of October 15th, a rescue team was called because the St. Matthew's Church in Derby was burning. The facade and the shed of the church suffered most of the damage. There have been another three attacks with arson in Derby in October: On the church in Quarndorn and two schools, the police has not yet found any evidence that would link these cases. The police is investigating.
Historical Church of San Giacomo Spray-Painted Again
October 14, 2020, ItalyOn the 14th of October, the wall of the Church San Giacomo in Tarquinia was vandalised again by unknown person with spray paint. The citizens are very outraged and demand the installation of security cameras for this church from the 8th century, which is a historical heritage. The building has already a fence, because of similar problems in the past.
Mayor Prevented the Blessing of a School Bus
October 14, 2020, ItalyIn the Municipality of Bibiana, the mayor, Fabio Rossetto, prevented the parish priest of the village to bless a new school bus. He said that the vehicle is ‘secular’ and therefore, does not need the consecration. This issue has raised controversy in the town of Turin.
Government Announced Ban on Conversion Therapies
October 14, 2020, FranceAs requested by associations for the protection of LGBT groups, the government sought to ban conversion therapies. This has been included in the bill on separatism. Several deputies, including Laurence Vanceunebrock-Mialon, claim that conversion therapies are ‘dangerous’ religious practices.
Priest Stolen During a Funeral Ceremony
October 13, 2020, GermanyOn Tuesday 13th October, an unknown person stole the Laptop from a priest, who held a funeral at the cemetery Chapel on Annaberg in Rheinberg. The Computer was on a table covered with a notebook inside the Chapel, then the priest went outside with the other guests for the funeral. When he came back, the Computer was missing. The police are investigating.
Vandalism at Reformed Church in Voorthuizen
October 13, 2020, NetherlandsOn the 11th of October, the Reformed Church in Voorthuizen was vandalised by unknown perpetrators. The CCTV cameras have captured the suspects, and the police is running an investigation and asking for witnesses.
Arson and Vandalism at Saint-Michel's Chapel
October 13, 2020, BelgiumDuring the night of October 13th, the Saint-Michel's chapel was vandalised and burnt down by unknown perpetrators. The interior of the church was set on fire, causing damage on the walls. The police of the Flémalle area was alerted.
More Churches in England Added to The List "Heritage at Risk" Due To Criminal Attacks On Churches
October 12, 2020, United KingdomIn the Year 2020 until now, 90 places of worship have been added to the "Historic England’s Heritage at Risk" register, while only 69 are being taken off. The organisation says this is a New trend they hope will not become the rule. Almost half of the churches are being added because of crimes and thefts of church roofs, which have increased in recent years.
Church in the Isle of Man Vandalised
October 12, 2020, United KingdomDuring the night of October 12th, the Port Erin Methodist Church in the Isle of Man was damaged by unknown vandals. The rear window was broken. The police is investigating and asking the residents for further information.
10 Meters of Graffiti With Unconstitutional Symbols on Church Walls
October 11, 2020, GermanyDuring the last days before the 11th October, the Kreuzkirche in Eisenach was smeared with symbols of unconstitutional organizations by unknown perpetrators. The vandals sprayed three walls over a total length of around ten meters. The period of the crime is still unclear, but the criminal investigation department has started investigations to find relevant information.