All cases
Santon Church vandalised
April 22, 2024, United KingdomAccording to the media, All Saints Church in Santon Downham, Brandon, was broken into and vandalised sometime between April 17 and 22. In the attack, a window was pulled out of its frame, graffiti was left and a toilet was damaged.
Vandalism: Windows smashed in Bonn Church
April 21, 2024, GermanySince the weekend of April 21, the St. Franziskus church has had smashed windows since the weekend. The management board is shocked.
Vandalism and Fire in Hilders Church
April 21, 2024, GermanyOn Sunday, April 21, unknown persons entered the Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist during official opening hours, tore flower decorations from the benches, destroyed sacrificial candles and burned paper in several places.
Vandalism and Islamic Graffiti inside Aachen Chapel
April 21, 2024, GermanyOn Sunday, April 21, Ursula Becker, a member of the parish council at St. Katharina, Aachen, discovered garbage and graffiti in the parish's St. Mary Chapel. Among other things, "Allahu Akbar" was written on the walls and doors. The crime must have happened between 12 and 4 p.m.
Vandalism in St. Nikolaus Church in Dorsten
April 20, 2024, GermanyBetween 20 and 21 April, unknown persons broke into St Nicholas' Church in Dorsten and left a trail of destruction, according to the local pastor. Among other things, they scattered the consecrated hosts all over the floor. The pastor is shocked by the incident.
Vandalism and Desecration of Church of Santa Maria in Albis
April 20, 2024, FranceOn Saturday night, April 20, individuals broke into the church of Sancta Maria in Albis, located in the heart of the village of Breil-sur-Roya.
Door of Santiago Church repeatedly vandalised
April 20, 2024, SpainOn Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Jerez, Spain, part of the lower area of the door of Santiago church was torn off in what appeared to be a new act of vandalism.
Vandalism: Church glass door smashed
April 17, 2024, GermanyBetween April 15, and 17, unknown perpetrators smashed the glass door of a church in Bad Homburg. As the time of the offence cannot yet be pinpointed and there is no further information about the perpetrators, the police are asking the public for help.
Attempted arson in the Chamerau church
April 17, 2024, GermanyOn Wednesday, April 17, unknown perpetrators tried to set fire to two cardboard boxes and a plastic tablecloth in the church in Chamerau. There was minor property damage. According to police, the attempted arson took place during the opening hours of the Chamerau church.
Passion Trail Vandalised
April 16, 2024, GermanyThe Passion Trail set up by the Evangelical Lutheran parish in Hagen-Haspe has been demolished. The path, which was lined with crosses and prayer texts, led along the forest path at Tücking.
Brussels authorities ban event due to “ethically conservative” beliefs on abortion, marriage, and the EU
April 16, 2024, BelgiumOn April 16, Brussels officials issued a police order to ban the entrance to the NatCon conference. The official order to shut down the conference included the reason that its "vision is not only ethically conservative (e.g. hostility to the legalisation of abortion, same-sex unions, etc.) but also focused on the defence of “national sovereignty”, which implies, amongst other things, a “Eurosceptic” attitude”. In an emergency ruling, Belgium highest court has lifted the ban and declared it unconstitutional.
England's High court backs prayer ritual ban at schools
April 16, 2024, United KingdomIn its judgment on Tuesday, April 16, the High Court of England and Wales dismissed a Muslim pupil's challenge to a ban of 'prayer rituals' at Michaela Community School in Brent, north-west London. The High Court judged that publicly funded schools in England can impose such bans of communal prayer rituals among students. It is not yet clear in how far Christian prayer will be affected by the ban.
Grave of Late Patriarch Neophyte Desecrated
April 15, 2024, BulgariaThe grave of the late Patriarch Neophyte was desecrated in Sofia, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church informed Tuesday morning, April 16.
Youth disturb concert in Cathedral shouting "Allah Akbar"
April 14, 2024, FranceOn Sunday, April 14, five adolescents entered the Saint-Etienne Cathedral in Metz during a concert of Bach, one of them interrupting the concert and shouting "Allah Akbar". The teenagers then fled but were found and arrested by the police.
Shouting Man Smashes Objects in Church
April 13, 2024, ItalyShortly after 6 pm, a 41-year-old man started shouting complaining about an alleged theft of a backpack. According to the police, he then entered the church in Via Felice Bellotti, the San Benedetto Monastery, in Milan’s city centre and started to hit commemorative wreaths and a statue, which he threw to the ground. The police intervened against the intoxicated man, who was charged with a criminal offence.
Jesus Figure Stolen from Easter Crib
April 13, 2024, ItalyIn the afternoon of April 13, a statue of Jesus was stolen from the Easter crib in the Consolation Parish in Via XX Settembre in Genoa. The first scene of the Easter crib displayed Jesus entering Jerusalem on the back of a donkey.
Arrest warrant for youths on suspicion of terrorist attack against "Christians and police"
April 12, 2024, GermanyThe German national security forces have unearthed a terrorist cell of minors in Düsseldorf. According to the newspaper Bild, the youths wanted to attack "Christians ("unbelievers") in churches" and "police officers in police stations" with knives and Molotov cocktails in the name of the ISIS. Arrest warrants have been issued.
Sacred objects stolen from Great Yarmouth Minster upset community
April 12, 2024, United KingdomGreat Yarmouth Minster Church was broken into twice within two weeks, first overnight between March 29 and March 30 and then again on April 12, 2024. Besides stealing money the thieves also broke the windows of the church and took sacred objects, namely the bread and wine which has been blessed and kept reserved and some of the sacred oils. "So many people in Yarmouth feel hurt by the fact that a place they consider special and important to community life has been violated," the church Reverend said.
French priest prosecuted for citing Catholic teaching on homosexuality
April 12, 2024, FranceFollowing the intervention of a government official, Father Matthieu Raffray was prosecuted for having referred to homosexuality as a sin, citing Catholic teaching on the matter. Despite the closure of the case by the public prosecutor, a new complaint has been filed.
Church façade vandalised during mass
April 10, 2024, GermanyOn April 10, a young man threw several bottles filled with alcohol against the façade of the Catholic Sacred Heart Church in Diez during the church service at around 6 p.m, causing heavy soiling and property damage.