All cases
Vandalism to Monastery church
February 25, 2024, GermanyUnknown perpetrators damaged the monastery church of Betzdorf. The window panes were smashed either with a stone or another tool. The police are investigating.
Unknown perpetrator sets fire to priest's car
February 25, 2024, ItalyThe car belonging to Father Marcos was destroyed in an arson attack outside the church of Francolise near Caserta. The mayor has condemned this incident on social media.
Vandalism at Salvator Church in Gera
February 25, 2024, GermanyUnknown individuals have vandalised Salvator Church on the Nicolaiberg in Gera by breaking three windows.
Priest physically attacked in Prizren
February 25, 2024, KosovoOn February 25 a Serbian Orthodox priest was physically attacked in Prizen. The attack took place as a bus of pilgrims from central Serbia arrived at a seminary Prizren where they wanted to attend the liturgy. The suspect parked his vehicle nearby and displayed a "KLA" flag on the front of the bus. He then verbally attacked and provoked the pilgrims. The priest, who was also on his way to the liturgy at the seminary, advised the pilgrims not to respond to provocations and to enter the Seminary as soon as possible. At that moment, the suspect physically assaulted the priest by pushing him, bending his arm, and attacking him.
Attempted poisoning of Italian priest during mass
February 24, 2024, ItalyOn 24 February, an unknown person attempted to poison Father Felice Palamara, the parish priest of San Nicola di Pannaconi, by adding bleach to the altar wine. Police suspect the local Mafia behind the attack.
Oratory window shattered by stone for the second time
February 23, 2024, ItalyFor the second time since september a stone shattred the window of Saint Joseph Oratory in Montegrotto.
St John's Church of Uslar vandalised
February 23, 2024, GermanyUnknown perpetrators sprayed painted black letters on the St John's Church of Uslar church wall. The material damage is estimated to be approximately 1000 euros. Police did not report the content of the message.
Geneva Secularity Law: No Public Baptisms for Non-Registered Churches
February 23, 2024, SwitzerlandThe Swiss Federal Court has supported a decision of the canton of Geneva banning baptismal celebrations in Lake Geneva for churches which do not "maintain a relationship with the State". In its ruling published in February 2024, the Court rejected the appeal of two churches, which have been banned from performing baptisms in the lake despite their long tradition of doing so.
Islamist graffiti on stone crosses
February 22, 2024, FranceIslamist graffiti was discovered on roadside “calver” stone crosses saying "Tomorrow this will be the land of Islam". this is not the first time: on Christmas night, Islamist vandals wrote "Allah" on the cross, and the other day they found the inscription "Today is the land of infidels".
Church vandalised with fire extinguisher
February 22, 2024, DenmarkBetween February 17 and 20 Spjellerup Church in the Danish region Sjælland was severely vandalised. The police believe that a perpetrator had emptied two fire extinguishers in the church, targeting the organ and the altar.
Stones thrown at window of priest's office
February 21, 2024, ItalyOn February 21, a large stone was thrown into the parish office where the parish priest Don Stefano Sgueglia and two others were still working. A few days prior blasphemous writings and words had appeared on one of the entrances of the monastic house.
St. Johann parish church robbed and desecrated
February 20, 2024, AustriaUnknown perpetrators broke into the parish church of St. Johann in Tirol, Austria, and stole and damaged religious objects. The figure of Christ was broken off a wooden cross.
Vandalism at the Dreieichenhain castle church
February 20, 2024, GermanyUnknown people damaged the church on the Dreieichenhain castle grounds. According to the police's initial assessment, the historic side door was forced open with brute force. At the same time, the perpetrators broke a window to the right of the main entrance. This is not the first time there has been vanalism to the church.
Pauluskirche painted with "Allahu Akbar"
February 20, 2024, GermanyShortly after an anti-AfD (Alternative for Germany Party) demo took place on the forecourt, “Allahu Akbar” was daubed in Arabic script on the Protestant Pauluskirche in Hamm, Germany. In response to a news inquiry, the Hamm police confirmed the graffiti on February 20. However, no information can yet be provided about the perpetrator's profile. The investigation is ongoing.
Taxi Driver Fined for Displaying Bible Verse
February 20, 2024, GermanyA taxi driver from the German town of Essen was fined for displaying a small Bible verse sticker on the rear window of his car. The city authorities claim that the Bible verse constitutes "religious advertising", which is illegal on taxis which are regarded as part of the public transport.
Statue of the Virgin Mary Vandalized
February 20, 2024, SpainA statue of the Virgin del Carme in a local chapel of Reus has been vandalised. Vandals broke the statue’s hands, removed its crown, and left it on a balcony after forcing entry into the chapel.
Drunken man attacked the attendants of the Church of St. Sergius
February 19, 2024, RussiaA drunk man entered the church of St Sergius of Radonezh in Sertolovo and demanded money from the congregation to continue the "banquet". The women politely refused, which infuriated him. He then flew into a rage, almost ripping the door to the church off its hinges. Previously he had attacked the abbot with a knife.
Arson to St. Lambertus Church in Kalterherberg
February 18, 2024, GermanyUnknown perpetrators set fire to the parish church of St. Lambertus in Kalterherberg on Sunday. In the rear area of the interior of the church, prayer books, a shelf with parish letters and sheets from the Book of the Dead were set on fire in front of the wall with the memorial plaques. Opposite, at the Marian altar, the burning memorial lights were thrown down and artificial flowers were also lit.
St Stephen and All Martyrs entrance vandalised
February 18, 2024, United KingdomThe stone pinnacles from a church gate were stolen on the weekend of the church's 180th anniversary.
Vandalism to Major Cloister of St. Francis
February 17, 2024, ItalyDuring the night of February 17, the Major Cloister of St. Francis was smeared with spray cans in several places. The monastery has already been targeted several times by vandals.