All cases

Attack against two churches in Algeciras leaves one dead and at least four wounded — terrorist shouted "death to Christians"

January 25, 2023, Spain

On the evening of January 25, a jihadist terror attack targeting two Catholic churches took place in Algeciras, Spain. Y. K., a 25-year-old Moroccan, has been arrested as the sole perpetrator of the attack, which he executed with a machete. An altar server was killed, and at least four persons are injured, including a priest in serious condition. Several witnesses indicate that he conducted the attack while shouting "Allah is great" and "death to Christians".

Unknown Vandals Damage Confessionals with Burnt Cigarette Marks

January 25, 2023, Austria

On the 25th of January, unknown perpetrators damaged the confessional chairs of a church with cigarette buds. The police have described the damages located in Saalfelden, Austria as willful damage to numerous pews. The investigation is still ongoing to find out the perpetrator(s).

Graffitis and Vandalism Return to Cathedral of la Seo

January 24, 2023, Spain

The "la Seo" Cathedral in Zaragoza has been vandalized again, as reported on the 24th of January. The facade of the church was graffitied in several parts of the outer walls with random words, pro-Moroccan slogans, anti-police slogans and anarchist symbols with red and black spray paint. The Church has said they filed a complaint, and the investigations are still going on.

Third Church Attacked With Arson in Paris During one Week

January 24, 2023, France

Between the 17th and the 25th of January, three Parisian churches have been attacked with arson by unknown perpetrators. Several fires have caused shock and sadness among parishioners in Paris. The last attack was on the Church of Saint-Laurent in the 10th district on the 24th. According to the findings, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at the left side of the door.

A Statue of Jesus on the Cross Shot at in Poland

January 23, 2023, Poland

During the weekend of January 23 in the village of Krzrpielow, a Crucifix was desecrated. An unknown perpetrator shot the statue of Jesus on the cross that belongs to the Church of the Holy Trinity. The incident was reported to the police, who are treating the case as desecration, due to the lack of respect for religious feelings. The investigation is still ongoing, and the police are asking for help to find the perpetrator.

Perpertrators Smashed Windows of Church of St. Paul

January 23, 2023, Germany

On January 23., a witness reported to the police that several young people had destroyed the windows at the Church of St. Paul in Velbert. In a German news website, it said "small stones were used to damage the exterior glazing of the windows of the Bohemian Church." It was also reported that larger stones were found larger surrounding the Church. Fortunately, no persons were harmed. The police are looking for the vandals.

Vandalism of Józefów cemetery

January 23, 2023, Poland

On January 23, 2023, a twenty-three-year-old man committed an act of vandalism at the cemetery in Józefów in Biłgoraj County. The perpetrator smashed candles and scattered flowers around several tombstones in the necropolis.

UK: Army Veteran Fined for Praying for His Diseased Son Quietly in His Mind

January 19, 2023, United Kingdom

The NGO ADF UK posted a video of two community safety accredited officers in Bournemouth interrogating a veteran who was standing on the street alone, praying in his thoughts. The officers told Adam Smith-Connor that he was praying inside a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) space, for which he was fined. According to the PSPO, certain activities such as acts of "disapproval" towards the abortion facility in the area are prohibited. Adam is at least the second person who was fined for praying silently on the street. He told the officers he was praying for his deceased son, which they considered an "act of disapproval."

Two Anonymous Terror Threats Against Evangelical School in Gelsenkirchen

January 18, 2023, Germany

The Protestant comprehensive school located in Gelsenkirchen has been surrounded and interrogated by the police department due to two anonymous shooting threats sent to the school via email on January 18 and 20. In both cases, the building was evacuated and carefully examined, no injuries have taken place. The President of the Westphalian Church, Annette Kurschus, has conveyed her shock about the threats and has asked for prayers and safety for all the teachers and students as well as the school. A suspect is being investigated by the police.

Premises of Sacred Heart church in Gavirate vandalised

January 18, 2023, Italy

Broken glass bottles and vases have been smashed in the vicinity and in the courtyard of the Church of the Sacred Heart in Gavirate, Italy. The perpetrators have not yet been found and investigations are continuing.

Molotov cocktail thrown against the church of Saint-Martin-des-Champs

January 18, 2023, France

There have been multiple cases in France, where churches have been targeted for hate crimes, theft or vandalism. The newest incident happened on January 18 near Paris, where the church of Saint-Martin-des-Champs and its front door and facade were partially burned. An unknown perpetrator has thrown an incendiary device, which was reported to be a molotov cocktail, against the front door at around five o'clock in the morning.

Two Arson Attacks on Parisian Church Notre-Dame-de-Fatima

January 17, 2023, France

On the 17th and the 22nd of January, the church of Notre-Dame-de-Fatima, the 19th district of Paris, was hit twice by unknown arsonists. The Newspaper "Le Parisien" reported that the door of the church was sprayed with a flammable liquid. Then, the perpetrators used newspapers to start a fire, which fortunately did not spread inside the building.

Wall of Aya Yorgi Church graffitied with "Islam is the only way"

January 16, 2023, Turkey

According to Mesopotamia Agency, an unknown perpetrator wrote "Islam is the only way" on the walls of the church's garden. The search for the suspect continues. The Aya Yorgi church was built in 1836 by Nicholas the Cross and is located in the Edirnekapı district of Istanbul.

Christian Receives Jail Sentence for Refusing Military Service on Conscientious Grounds

January 16, 2023, Ukraine

On the 16th of January, 46-year-old Vitaly Alekseenko was given a one-year jail term for refusing the call to the military on conscientious grounds. The Ivano-Frankivsk Appeal Court rejected his appeal against his conviction and has sentenced him to jail starting on the 19th of January. Alekseenko is the fifth known case of court conviction due to conscientious objection, but he is the first one to receive a jail sentence. Alekseenko told Forum 18 that he is "not guilty under the law of God".

Frequent church thefts in Wysowa-Zdroj

January 13, 2023, Poland

In a small village in Poland, there has been a series of thefts from churches, and the police have not yet been able to identify the perpetrators.

Priest in Newry devastated his church had six windows and four bathrooms destroyed

January 13, 2023, Ireland

Near the city of Newry, vandalism occurred at a church on January 13 during the night. The perpetrator broke six windows and four bathrooms that were outside the Church of the Sacred Heart. Father Richard Naughton commented that he was "shocked to the core" and vandalism like this had never happened before. The cost for the reparation of the windows was estimated at thousand pounds. The perpetrator is still on the run. The police department has asked for witnesses to contact them as soon as possible.

Stained Glass Windows Smashed at Church in Cloughoge

January 13, 2023, United Kingdom

The Church of the Sacred Heart in Cloughoge was vandalised overnight between January 12 and 13. Police received a report around 9 AM on January 13 that six windows of the church and four outside toilets had been smashed overnight. The stained glass windows require specialist repair which is expected to cost many thousand pounds.

Street Preacher in Scotland wins Case After Being Wrongfully arrested for alleged "Hate Speech"

January 13, 2023, United Kingdom

Mr Angus Cameron, the Pastor of Cumnock Baptist Church, has now received £5,500 for his unlawful detention by the Police, as well as £9,400 for the legal costs. Mr Cameron decided to donate all of his compensation to The Christian Institute, an NGO that supported him throughout this legal case. Mr Cameron was handcuffed and arrested by the police back in 2020, for "breach of the peace with homophobic aggravation". He was contacted by the police a few days later and told that he would not be prosecuted, but a non-crime hate incident had been filed. Mr Cameron then sought assistance from the Christian Institute.

Disruption of church service in Warsaw

January 13, 2023, Poland

On January 13, 2023, three drunk men disrupted the celebration of evening mass in the Church of Saints Peter and Paul the Apostles in Warsaw. According to eyewitnesses, they entered the church during the service and began cursing and screaming.

Devastation of a shrine in Noskowo

January 12, 2023, Poland

On January 12, 2023, local media reported the destruction of the shrine of Mary in Noskowo. Unknown perpetrators tore off and broke the crown on the head of the statue of Mary, and also tore off and abandoned a metal cross on the lawn around the chapel.