All cases

Man Arrested for Setting Fire at Bayonne Church

January 11, 2020, France

A man suspected of committing the January 11th arson attack on the Saint-Esprit church in Bayonne was arrested the following day. Investigators were able to quickly determine that the fire had been deliberately set and video surveillance images made it possible to identify the suspect who was seen in the images leaving the church a few minutes before the first smoke was visible. The fire, which left no one injured, was brought under control by the firefighters but the suffered extreme smoke damage. 

Crèche Vandalized Near Rouen

January 11, 2020, France

The religious crèche of the Saint-André church in Mont-Saint-Aignan, near Rouen, was vandalized on January 11, with the decorations overturned and the figures broken. The statue of the baby Jesus was decapitated. After expressing his sadness to the parish and to the parish priest, Monsignor Dominique Lebrun, Archbishop of Rouen, deplored the incident as an "offense against the Christian faith."

Baby Jesus Stolen from Crèche in Lüneburg

January 11, 2020, Germany

The Lüneburg police opened an investigation into the theft of the Jesus figure from the church on Friedenstrasse between January 10th and 11th.

Church in Milltown Co Kildare Ransacked and Tabernacle Stolen

January 11, 2020, Ireland

On January 11th, it was discovered that unknown perpetrators had broken into St Brigid's Church in Milltown, county Kildare, and stole the tabernacle, containing the ciborium with Communion hosts, as well as the sacristy safe and a candle shrine. The tabernacle was later found by the police in a nearby field.

Nativity Scene Vandalised in Saint-Hilaire Church in Faye-l’Abbesse

January 11, 2020, France

On 11 January, the Saint-Hilaire Chruch in Faye-l'Abbesse was found without the baby Jesus statue from the nativity scene. The pieces of the Jesus statue were found again at the back of the church. The body, arms and head were scattered. This adds up to recurring vandalism observed by the gendarmes. There have been looting, the cutting of the organ's power supply wire, the disappearance of the sheep from the nativity scene and the burning of music sheets and the curtains of a confess ional altar and coverings and many more.

Extensive Damage to Church in Jühnsdorf

January 11, 2020, Germany

On the 11th January, unknown persons broke into the church of Jühnsdorf and stole a large metal cross, smashed a window, and damaged the organ. The church had been recently restored by the parish community.

Vandalism and Theft in Borgolavezzaro Church

January 10, 2020, Italy

Just before 4 pm on January 10th, at least three men entered the church of Santi Bartolomeo e Gaudenzio and broke through the thick glass case of the shrine carved out of a side altar containing the containing the urn of Santa Giuliana, patron saint of the town. Using a crowbar, the thieves also broke the glass of the urn and stole a rosary crown, a gold crucifix, rings, and other valuables worn by the patron saint's mannequin. The figure's left hand was the most damaged, with two destroyed wax fingers.

Paint Attack on Catholic Church in Berlin

January 9, 2020, Germany

During the night between the 8th and 9th of January 2020 unknown perpetrators vandalized the historic building of St. Elisabeth-Kirche in Berlin-Schöneberg with black and white paint, sprayed the words “Pro Choice” on its entrance doors together with other unidentifiable symbols and glued the parish hall doors closed. A purported confession letter was later posted on the extreme left platform de.indymedia.org, naming a Berlin feminist/left-wing radical alliance as responsible for the vandalism.

Nine Statues of the Virgin Mary Attacked in Less than Four Hours in Pyrenees

January 9, 2020, France

On the morning of January 9th, in the space of 45 minutes, five statues of the Virgin Mary, located in three different churches of Pau (Pyrénées-Atlantiques): Saint-Martin, Saint-Jacques and Notre-Dame, were destroyed. Similar vandalism continued in the churches of the Béarn communes of Lons, Artix, Denguin, and Mourenx, where, each time, a statue of the Virgin was destroyed. A 35-year-old man, described as homeless, was arrested in Mourenx at the end of the day and sent for psychiatric evaluation.

Sankt Martin Church in Berlin-Schönefeld Hit with Tar Bomb and Repeated Attacks

January 9, 2020, Germany

On January 9th the Sank Martin Church in Berlin-Schönefeld was hit with a tar bomb that was smeared all over the church. It was not the first criminal incident that the church has faced. Offertory boxes were broken open, the holy water basin was soiled with urine, and candle sticks were stolen.

Christ Figures Stolen Twice in Two Weeks in Fabriano

January 7, 2020, Italy

The Christ child figure was stolen on Christmas Eve from the nativity in the church of San Giovanni Battista in Fabriano (Ancona). Volunteers purchased a new figure to replace it. The new figure was then stolen from the San Filippo church around Epiphany, but returned a few days later.

Nativity Scene Burned down St. Pankratius

January 7, 2020, Germany

On the 7th January, 40 firefighters rushed to St. Pankratius Church to put down a large crib that has been ablaze, which led to enormous property damage. The police are investigating and they do not exclude arson. The police are looking for witnesses and clues to gather more information about the origin of the fire. Witnesses can call the criminal investigation department at 02902-91000.

Children Set A Christmas Nativity Scene On Fire

January 7, 2020, Belgium

On January 7th two boys aged 11 and 12 set a Christmas nativity scene on fire and almost destroyed the Basilica of Our Lady of Consolation in Vilvoorde. The boys confessed and the case will now be dealt with the youth prosecutor's office.

Theft, Damage, and Madonna Smeared and the Wheels Of The Parish Priest's Car

January 6, 2020, Italy

The statute of the Madonna and other religious images were smeared with black pain. The perpetrators also deflated the wheels of the parish priest. They stole bottles of soft drinks disappear from the premises of the patronage, then exploding firecrackers.Some children are being accused of these acts of hooliganism.

Live Nativity Play Parody on TV Sparks Outrage

January 5, 2020, Spain

Although it was intended to be "funny," the performance shown on the "Viva la vida" television program on the afternoon of January 5th was offensive and disrespectful to viewers. Taking advantage of the fact that that afternoon the typical Three Kings' parade was taking place, the program chose to parody the scene, using their presenters as protagonists. "Shameful" and "it is a lack of respect and humiliation" and "I am a Muslim, but this seems disrespectful to me, it is not necessary to play with the beliefs of Christians to try to be a trending topic" were some of the phrases that appeared on Twitter after "Viva la Vida" published an image of the performance.

Third Suspicious Fire in 18 Months at Syrian Orthodox Church

January 5, 2020, Sweden

On January 5th a fire was discovered in the meeting room of Syrian Orthodox St. Maria’s Church in Norrköping. After firefighters extinguished the fire, investigators classified it as arson. Just a month before, on December 3rd 2019 a similar incident occurred when someone poured gasoline outside the church and lit it. Those two fires were not the first time the building fell victim to a suspected arson attack. In August 2018 police investigated another case. The church assembly has been discussing plans enhance security, including enlisting volunteers take turns guarding the church at night to complement the police patrols and security cameras.

Two Nativity Scenes Burnt in Ivrea

January 4, 2020, Italy

Police in Ivrea (near Turin) identified a 46-year-old woman suspected of setting fire to two church nativity scenes: one in the church of San Maurizio and the second in the church of San Salvatore on January 4th. She faces a complaint for damage. The fires not only destroyed the two nativity scenes with plastic statuettes, but in the Church of San Maurizio the fire practically incinerated a painting by Tullio Alemanni, "The Baptism of Jesus," which was located above the baptismal font next to the crèche, in addition to a fresco, also by Alemanni, positioned between the crèche and the baptismal font.

Baby Jesus Figure Stolen from Church Crèche

January 4, 2020, Italy

The parish of Sacro Cuore in Trapani reported the theft of the Christ figure from the nativity scene in the church on January 4th.

Various Cases of Theft of Christmas Crib Figures Across Germany

January 4, 2020, Germany

After Christmas various churches in Germany were victims of theft, specifically the figures of Christmas cribs. On January 4th unknown perpetrators stole the valuable wooden figure of King Melchior from the Christmas crib of the Catholic church St.Maria in Göppingen. Another two thefts occurred , also on January 4th, in the church of Parnhofen and the church of Ganacker, in both cases the perpetrators stole the little Jesus figure out of the Christmas crib. On the same date the Jesus figure of the Christmas crib of the city church of Friedberg was stolen from the altar. Lastly, on March 21st unknown perpetrators smashed a window to gain access to the protestant church of Aldekerk, ransacked two closets and stole two figures of the Christmas crib.

Graffiti on Walls and Door of San Giovannello Church in Campobasso

January 4, 2020, Italy

On the 5th January 2020, some vandals defaced the small sixteenth-century church of of San Giovannello located in the north of Campobasso. Writings, scribbles and profanity were made with a spray can. The area is often subjected with acts of vandalism and abandonment of syringes. The neighbourhood Committee San Giovannello asked for the placement of video surveillance cameras.

Martyr's Cross Smashed At Puente Genil

January 3, 2020, Spain

On January 3rd 2020, the cross of the martyr Antonio Baena Castellanos, which represented the genocide of Puente Genil, was thrown on the ground and damaged. Antonio Baena Castellanos was axed to death in July 1936 by the Republicans of Puerto Alegre. During the genocide, 157 victims were killed, 7 churches were completely destroyed and 28 private buildings burned to the ground. The police are investigating and searching for witnesses.

Statue of Virgin Mary Stolen from Saint-Étienne-du-Grès Church

January 2, 2020, France

A statue of the Virgin Mary was stolen from the church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption in the town of Saint-Étienne-du-Grès on January 2, 2020.

Nativity Scene Repeatedly Vandalized in Alice Castello

January 1, 2020, Italy

The nativity scene installed by Alice Castello volunteers was repeatedly vandalized at the end of December and into the new year, with the figures broken and some of the statues beheaded. This was the third year in a row that this installation was attacked by vandals.

Infant Jesus and Cradle Burnt in Manger Scene

January 1, 2020, Italy

Inhabitants of Pedemonte were shocked to discover that the figure of the baby Jesus in the nativity scene erected in the Piazza San Rocco church square was burnt on New Year's Eve. Only the charred remains of the figure were left inside the blackened wooden cradle.

Nativity Scene and Church Heilig Geist Set on Fire in Ratingen

January 1, 2020, Germany

Allegedly, in the night of new years eve, unknown perpetrators set the nativity scene and the church Heilig Geist in Ratingen on fire by setting fire on different site inside the church. The main cause of the severe damage is the soot that developed during the fire, which forced the parrish priest to close the church temporarily. The police assumes severe arson and is investigating the crime, additionally the state security department was informed.

Statue of the Virgin Mary Blown Up in Waldmünchen

January 1, 2020, Germany

On New Year's Eve, a 22-year-old man blew up the statue of the Virgin Mary, which was placed in the garden of the parish of St. Stephen of Waldmünchen. The perpetrator also filmed the act. The statue stood on a one-meter-high grotto and was blown up with a banger. Parts of the statue were found within a radius of several meters, additionally a pile of rubble was left in the garden. The statue had a monetary value of 1.000 Euros, but the ideational damage is much bigger, for the grotto was made by a sacristan of the parish 40 years ago. When interrogated, the young man said he did it for the "nice feeling", he got reported by the police, but still walks freely.

Various Nativity Scenes Were Vandalised and Desecrated In Lombardy

January 1, 2020, Italy

In the days before and after New Year's Eve, there were several acts of vandalism of nativity scene throughout Lombardy. This included the cities of Lodi, Brescia, Milano, Como, Concorezzo and Fabriano. Most of the vandalism targeted the statues of the infant Jesus, but often the acts were towards the entire crib. In one case the Jesus statue was decapitated, thrown on the trash or destroyed, and the pictures were shared on social media. In other cases excrements were left on the scene and the figures were vandalised or stolen. The teenagers who posted the acts on social media were identified.

Nativity Scenes Destroyed and Burned Down in Ypres Saint Martin Church and Neighbourhoods of Marke, Watermael-Boitsfort and Mousset

January 1, 2020, Belgium

The nativity scene of Ypres Saint Martin Church has been damaged numerous times in the last period. Perpetrators tore the baby Jesus apart as well as smeared the figures of the saints with ketchup. The hat of Joseph disappeared twice, and the dolls were pulled apart. In another neighbourhood, Marke, the baby Jesus has also been stolen from the nativity scene and hung above the tunnel. In Watermael-Boitsfort and Mousset, the nativity scenes were set on fire. The cases have been suspected as arson.

Theft of Stola and repeated Contamination of Confessional in Church of Alzenau-Hörstein

January 0, 2020, Germany

In the church "Mariä Himmelfahrt" in Alzenau-Hörstein, faeces were repeatedly left in the confessional; in addition, a stole was stolen. The suspected perpetrator was caught by chance during a traffic control.

Extremists Set Fire to Christian Journalist’s Car in Berlin

December 31, 2019, Germany

On December 31st German pro-life journalist Gunnar Schupelius’s car was destroyed in an arson attack for which the so-called “Autonomous Feminist Cell” claimed responsibility.

Jesus Statue Beheaded in the Crèche of Caprino Veronese

December 31, 2019, Italy

Parishioners at the New Year's Day Mass learned from the priest that the statue of Jesus was no longer in the cradle in the nativity scene in Piazza San Marco in Caprino Veronese because it had been decapitated the night before.

Christmas Figures Broken by Vandals on New Year's Eve

December 31, 2019, Italy

Statues in the nativity scene in Piazza della Libertà, Lizzanello (Lecce) were vandalized by unknown perpetrators during the night of December 31st. The faces of several of the handmade statues were smashed.

Christ Figure Stolen from Nativity on New Year's Eve

December 31, 2019, Italy

On New Year's Eve, a man riding a bicycle was filmed by security cameras stopping at the crèche in Lecce's Piazza Duomo and stealing the Christ child figure.

Nativity Scene Dismantled Early Due to Repeated Vandalism

December 30, 2019, Italy

Volunteers from the volunteer association Pro Loco of Robbiate were forced to take down the nativity installation prematurely due to repeated vandalism. Vandalism included detaching wooden planks from the hut, dismantling pieces of the roof, and throwing away ornaments and furnishings. The display was dismantled on December 29th instead of January 6th.

Four Teenagers Vandalized Christ Child Statue in Nativity Scene

December 29, 2019, Italy

Four teenaged boys were identified and referred to the Public Prosecutor at the Juvenile Court of Bresci on allegations that they vandalized the statue of the Christ child in the nativity scene in the piazza outside the basilica in San Benedetto Po. The day after the incident, police found the head and torso of the statue hanging on an iron pole on the opposite side of the piazza. Evidence collected led the police to the four perpetrators, described as Muslims, born in Italy, of Moroccan descent. They reportedly admitted their involvement in the incident.

Statue of Christ Child Hanged in Mogliano Veneto

December 29, 2019, Italy

The statue of the Christ child was discovered removed from the nativity scene in Piazza Berto in Mogliano and hung above the ground with an electric cable around its neck. Plastic cups littered the ground of the crèche.

Electrical Equipment Stolen from Live Nativity Set

December 29, 2019, Italy

The electrical materials used for a live nativity performance in Canosa di Puglia were stolen on December 29th by unknown thieves.

Christ Child Statue Taken from Crèche; Thrown to the Ground

December 28, 2019, Italy

The resin figure of Jesus was taken out of the public nativity scene in Parè di Conegliano during the night between December 27th and 28th and thrown to the ground nearby by unknown vandals. Other figures in the scene were toppled and the cradle was stolen.

Paint and Fire Attack on Evangelical Church in Germany

December 27, 2019, Germany

On December 27th an anonymous group attacked the independent evangelical church TOS Ministries Tübingen in southern Germany. Several masked people simultaneously set a minibus owned by the church on fire and sprayed the entry area of the church with purple paint. According to the police, the attack resulted in damage of 40,000 euros. A group calling itself a "Feminist Autonomous Cell" (“Feministische Autonome Zelle” FAZ) claimed responsibility for the attack a few days later in an online letter.

Elaborate Nativity Scene Damaged by Vandals

December 26, 2019, Italy

The nativity scene in Valgiano, which was nine meters wide and 8 meters high, with an area of ​​over 30 square meters, most of which is occupied by water, including a central lake, a smaller body of water, and waterfalls was vandalized on December 26th. Unknown perpetrators threw detergent into the water, which may have reacted with chlorine, creating a sea of ​​foam and a pungent smell.

Church Crèche Vandalized Three Times Around Christmas

December 25, 2019, France

The nativity scene installed in front of the Notre-Dame church of Dijon was vandalized with litter and garbage bags three times between December 20th and 25th.

Thieves Stole Baby Jesus Statue and Crib on Christmas Day

December 25, 2019, Italy

Thieves removed the handmade statue of the Jesus child and wooden cradle on Christmas day at the Don Angelo Frare park near the parish church in Mosnigo.

Ourense Nativity Scene Vandalized Three Times Leading up to Christmas

December 24, 2019, Spain

A nativity scene in the city of Ourense was damaged on the morning of December 20th, the Christ child figure was stolen and arms broken on December 23rd, and after being recovered and installed again on December 24th, the figure was stolen again on Christmas Day.

Children's Crèche Scene Destroyed by Vandals

December 24, 2019, Italy

During night between December 23 and 24, unidentified vandals entered a park while it was closed and destroyed some of the polystyrene figures in a nativity scene made by elementary school children. They also threw the figures into a pond.

Nativity Scene Vandalized on Christmas Eve

December 24, 2019, Italy

Residents in Ossi, a town a few kilometers from Sassari (Sardinia), woke on Christmas day to discover that the crèche installed by a local group (Pro Loco), in collaboration with the municipal administration, had been vandalized on the town's main street. The statues were torn up, dragged, and abandoned on the street.

Christ Statue Stolen from Crib; Beheaded and Abandoned in Cemetery

December 24, 2019, Italy

A statue of the Christ child, placed in the manger of the nativity scene in front of the parish church of Arbus, in southern Sardinia, was beheaded by vandals. The head was left in front of the municipal cemetery. After it was found, the head was glued back on to the body, but the local community was shocked.

Arsonists Target Set of Live Nativity Performance

December 24, 2019, Italy

At 10:15 p.m. on December 24th, unknown arsonists set fire to the roof of the set of a live nativity performance in Revine. The scene, made with wooden planks and poles and covered with reeds that volunteers had recovered a few days earlier from nearby lakes, was located in the churchyard of the church of San Matteo. A bottle of alcohol and a pair of building site gloves, tools used by arsonists to set the fire, were found on the ground. Two teams of firefighters from Vittorio Veneto rushed to the scene and managed to tame the fire before it could affect the wooden structure.

Nativity Vandalized on Christmas Eve

December 24, 2019, Italy

Mario Seghezzi, the mayor of Martinengo, reported on Facebook that vandals destroyed the nativity scene installed near the parish church: “I am truly sorry for the vile act that took place on Christmas Eve. An act that hurts the serenity, magic, and warmth of Christmas." Because the vandalism was recorded by video surveillance cameras, the mayor expressed hope that the three identified vandals would repair the damage.

Cemetery Vandalized; Crosses Smashed

December 22, 2019, Belgium

More than a dozen graves at the cemetery next to the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church in Villeroux were vandalized during the night between December 21st and 22nd. Gravestones were knocked over and crosses were smashed.

Burglars Damage Church Door in Geislingen

December 20, 2019, Germany

Burglars damaged the door of the Geislingen church on the 20th of December. The thieves stole a money box that was secured with a chain and broke through the historic door to do so. Not much money was stolen but the property damage was significant.