All cases
Man sentenced for series of arsons in Pau
June 5, 2024, FranceOn June 5, Fataharhman Awad Allah Abdalkrem, a political refugee, was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment for a series of arson attacks in Pau between March and May 2022. He had caused fire to the chaplaincy of the Saint-Pierre Church, from which he also stole a cash box containing 300 euros and a computer.
Verbal harassment during mass
June 4, 2024, Bosnia and HerzegovinaDuring the celebration of the Corpus Christi, a group of young men harassed the faithful with inappropriate insults and shouted "Takbir" (exclamation, which in Arabic means "Allah is great"). Similar Incidents were already happening during previous celebrations.
Arson attempt in Tyumen
June 3, 2024, RussiaOn 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.
Cathedral evacuated after Bomb Threat
June 3, 2024, FranceOn the morning of 3rd June, the Amiens Cathedral was evacuated after receiving a bomb threat over a malicious call. It is presumed to be a hoax.
Vandalism in Freren
June 2, 2024, GermanySometime 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.
Paintings vandalised in church in Amt Creuzburg
June 2, 2024, GermanyBetween 1 and 2 June 2024, unknown perpetrators entered a church in Eisenach, Amt Creuzburg, and vandalised two wall paintings. The estimated damage amounts to approximately €1,000.
Multiple vandalism cases from St Gregory’s Church in Suffolk
June 1, 2024, United KingdomOn Saturday, June 1, vandals entered the church of St Gregory’s and smashed the lead-lined windows in multiple places from inside. According to the St Gregory’s parochial church council (PCC), this is not the first incident; last month, vandals broke down the door to gain unauthorized access to the porch.
Vandals urinate into the holy water fountain of Strasbourg church
May 31, 2024, FranceOn 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, GermanyOn 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 KingdomThe 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, ItalyOn 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, FranceOn 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, ItalyIn 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, PolandOn 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.
Historic organ in Mockau vandalised during break-in
May 29, 2024, GermanySometime between 26th and 29th May, Stephanus Church in Leipzig was vandalised by unknown perpetrators, after breaking-in a side door with multiple security locks. Several pipes from the 19th century organ were ripped off, also damaging the instrument, though some of them have now been found by the police. The fence was also damaged during the break-in.
Chapel defaced with Islamic graffiti
May 29, 2024, SloveniaOn 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.
Man rammed car into Rodez Cathedral shouting "I hate Jesus"
May 28, 2024, FranceAs reported on 28th May, a 55 year old Frenchman has been arrested for driving his vehicle into the Cathedral of Rodez in Aveyron region. Fortunately, the SUV got stuck on the stairs leading up to the entrance and did not damage the Cathedral. According to witnesses, he was shouting “I hate Jesus” and “I hate Christianity”.
Man rams car into cross and shouts "Allahou Akbar"
May 28, 2024, FranceOn May 28 in Loyettes, in the Ain, a man of Turkish origin knocked over a Catholic cross with his van. After shouting "Allahou Akbar", he began to pray at the scene of the incident.
Vandalism in North Yorkshire
May 26, 2024, United KingdomBetween 24th and 26th May, unknown perpetrators smashed 500 year old windows of a church in St. Mary's Church Thirsk.
Vandalism of cemetery in Ville-la-Grand
May 26, 2024, FranceOn the night of May 26 to 27, around forty graves were looted at the Ville-la-Grand cemetery near Annemasse and crosses damaged. This is not the first time such an incident has happened. Since september, there has been a series of thefts of bronze statuettes from the cemetery.