All cases

Vandal attacks parish staff when caught

June 27, 2026, Germany

On June 27, a 26-year-old man vandalised the floor of a church in Traunreut with a felt-tip pen and punched a church representative in the face when confronted. The suspect fled the scene but was later temporarily arrested by local police

Vandalism in Velen church

July 8, 2025, Germany

Repeated acts of vandalism at St. Andrew's Church in Velen, in the Borken district. The church has been left in a state of disarray, with overturned candles and firecrackers set off next to the high altar. The most recent example: The icon of 'Our Lady of Perpetual Help' was sprayed with wax, and the damage is estimated to be in the mid-three-digit range.

Hostilities erupt outside church in Langenau

July 7, 2025, Germany

Violence by pro-Palestine demonstrators against the congregation of St Martin's Protestant Church in Langenau, in the Alb-Donau district, has escalated. During an unannounced gathering outside the church, two protesters reportedly became physically violent and verbally abusive. Due to the repeated demonstrations becoming increasingly violent, many parishioners have stopped attending services out of fear.

Altar of church in Lido vandalised

July 6, 2025, Italy

Unknown individuals entered the church of Tarquinia Lido, Maria Santissima Stella del mare, and overturned and damaged all the objects on the altar. According to reports, the vandals entered through a window at the back of the church and then targeted the side chapel where the consecrated hosts are kept.

Arson attack in Garmisch-Partenkirchen: Helpers Stop Arsonist

July 6, 2025, Germany

On the afternoon of Saturday, June 29, 2025, a 28-year-old man allegedly set fire to several altars in the Catholic parish church of St. Martin in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. According to police, the man intentionally ignited altar cloths using a lighter and caused damage estimated in the high four-figure range. Two church visitors extinguished the flames before the fire department arrived and overpowered the suspect, who has been temporarily placed in a psychiatric clinic by court order.

Salsasio church closes to public due to repeated vandalism

July 3, 2025, Italy

Following repeated acts of vandalism and harassment of the faithful, the parish of Salsasio has decided to close the church on Via Novara to the public, keeping it open only for religious services. Parish leaders denounced the incidents as showing “contempt for a sacred place and for Christianity,” and expressed serious concern for the safety of the church and its sacred objects.

Arsonists Ignite Five Fires in Lavesum’s Antonius Church

July 2, 2025, Germany

On Friday, July 2, 2025, unknown individuals set multiple fires inside the Antonius Church in Lavesum, causing significant damage. Among the destroyed items was the canopy (baldachin) above the altar, and church officials suspect arson.

Sacristan struck down with cross

June 30, 2025, Germany

On June 30, a man attacked the sacristan of the Catholic St. Nikolaus parish in Rodgau, using a crucifix as a weapon. The attacker, who is born in Syria and holds Lebanese and German citizenship, initially confronted the church worker after being approached about loud music coming from his parked car. He kicked the sacristy door, punched the sacristan, and then tore a 1.6-meter crucifix from the wall, striking the victim so forcefully that it broke. According to reports, he then tried to use the broken pieces of the figure of Jesus as a stabbing weapon and shouted to a passerby, “Help me kill him.”

Crucifix set alight and 40 headstones smashed

June 29, 2025, United Kingdom

A large wooden crucifix was set on fire and around 40 headstones were smashed in a serious act of vandalism at St Conval’s Cemetery in Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, Scotland, in the early hours of Sunday, June 29, 2025. The Catholic community has expressed deep sorrow over the attack, which Bishop John Keenan described as “destructive violence.” A 39-year-old man has since been arrested and charged in connection with the incident.

Salerno Church doors smeared with excrements

June 28, 2025, Italy

On the morning of June 28, 2025, vandals defaced the Church of Sant’Anna al Porto in Salerno by smearing feces on both the main entrance and sacristy doors. This marked the second consecutive day of such an attack, discovered by Monsignor Claudio Raimondi and several parishioners.

Police investigate Arson at Northampton Church

June 27, 2025, United Kingdom

On the evening of June 27, 2025, a fire broke out at St Mary’s Church on Towcester Road in Northampton. Emergency services were called to the scene, and police are treating the incident as arson.

Church in Peine target of arson

June 25, 2025, Germany

On the morning of 25 June, a Catholic parish church in Peine, Germany, was targeted in an attempted arson attack. The fire, likely started using accelerants, caused minor damage to the entrance door but was quickly extinguished by a church employee before it could spread.

Church in Orne desecrated

June 24, 2025, France

The tabernacle of the church in Mortagne-au-Perche (Orne) was desecrated on Tuesday, 24 June 2025. The religious building has been temporaily closed and will reopen on Saturday, 28 June for a Mass of Reparation.

British Catholic Hospices Face Closure Following Assisted Suicide Vote

June 20, 2025, United Kingdom

British Catholic hospices and care homes for the elderly face potential closure after the controversial Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was approved at Third Reading in the House of Commons on 20 June, passing by a narrow majority of just 23 votes. This bill, if enacted, would compel Catholic palliative care institutions that refuse to participate in assisted suicide on the basis of Christian teachings to either comply or face closure, raising deep concerns over the protection of institutional conscientious objection.

Arson Attack on Evangelical Street Preacher’s Trailer in Gütersloh

June 20, 2025, Germany

In the pre-dawn hours of June 20, 2025, unknown assailants set fire to a vehicle trailer belonging to street preacher Henning Heinrich Westrup in Gütersloh, North Rhine‑Westphalia. The trailer, emblazoned with the message “Jesus saves”, suffered extensive damage to its protective tarpaulin and exterior in what authorities are investigating as a deliberate act of arson.

Liturgical Gospel Book Ripped Apart in St. Ulrich bei Steyr Church

June 19, 2025, Austria

Between Monday 17 and Wednesday 19 June 2025, an unknown individual severely damaged a liturgical gospel at St Ulrich's parish church in Steyr, Austria. Parish staff found the Gospel, which had been left open on the side altar, completely vandalised — every single one of its 300 pages had been torn down the middle.

Church in Lingen Suffered Heavy Vandalism

June 18, 2025, Germany

On the afternoon of Saturday, June 18, 2025, unidentified individuals broke into the Romanesque-Gothic St. Alexander Church in Lingen-Schepsdorf, leaving a trail of destruction. Several religious statues were vandalised—one completely destroyed, others defaced with melted wax—deeply shocking the local community, especially as this is not an isolated incident.

Profanation of Church in Provins during Festival

June 14, 2025, France

During the medieval festival Médiévales, held on 14–15 June 2025, the Collégiale Saint-Quiriace in Provins was desecrated. This Gothic collegiate church, which is a historic landmark in the Diocese of Meaux, was open to both pilgrims and festival exhibitors. However, several stalls displayed occult and neo-pagan items, including books on Satanism, inside the sacred space. Witnesses also reported seeing a shirtless man dressed as a satyr, wearing horns, parading through the nave, alongside erotic imagery placed among the church’s pillars. The local bishop denounced this violation of the church's spiritual dignity.

Arson Attack at Market Drayton’s St Mary’s Church

June 9, 2025, United Kingdom

St Mary’s Church in Market Drayton, Shropshire, was the target of a deliberate arson attack. Firefighters from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service were alerted on the morning of 9 June, arriving to find the large oak rear door of the church engulfed in flames. The fire was threatening to spread to nearby curtains and wooden roof timbers. Thanks to their swift emergency response, firefighters contained the fire before it could cause more extensive damage.

Vandals Cause Extensive Damage to Great Yarmouth Minster Windows

June 9, 2025, United Kingdom

According to a BBC article, published on June 9th, the historic Great Yarmouth Minster, the largest parish church in England, was targeted by vandals who hurled stones at its leaded windows, shattering dozens of diamond-shaped panes and severely damaging one large stained-glass window. The attack occurred in broad daylight, while church wardens were still cleaning up earlier damage. During the cleanup, another stone was thrown through a window, prompting staff to run outside and spot two teenage boys fleeing the scene.

Vandalism St. Anna Basilica in Altötting: Pentecost Service Relocated

June 8, 2025, Germany

On the night before Pentecost Sunday, June 8,  2025, a 19-year-old man vandalised the pilgrimage church of St. Anna in Altötting, damaging and soiling numerous sacred objects. Police estimate the resulting property damage to be in the mid-five-figure range. The violent incident disrupted morning Pentecost services.

Church in Sindelfingen Vandalised

June 7, 2025, Germany

A church situated on Liebenzeller Straße in Sindelfingen, Baden-Württemberg, was targeted in a spree of vandalism. The damage was discovered later that day, with police confirming that unknown individuals had overturned liturgical furnishings, breaking off several candle holders, removing floral arrangements, plant pots, shelving, and other church fixtures, and relocating them to the building’s entrance vestibule.

Germany: Anti-Christian Hate Crimes rise by 22%

June 6, 2025, Germany

The German Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) recorded 337 politically motivated anti-Christian hate crimes for 2024, an increase of 21.66% from 277 crimes in 2023. This represents a continuation of the negative trend observed in the previous year, during which anti-Christian hate crimes increased by 100%.

Desecration of Crucifix in Rudy Raciborskie Forest

June 5, 2025, Poland

A wooden roadside crucifix in Rudy Raciborskie, Poland, was deliberately vandalised in a shocking incident. The perpetrators sawed off the arms of the figure of Jesus, turned it upside down and draped rubbish over the desecrated image. Locals say this was timed to coincide with a significant celebration at the nearby sanctuary marking the 25th anniversary of the coronation of Our Lady of Pokorna. Residents described the incident as a deeply symbolic and intentional assault on their place of prayer.

Spanish Evangelicals banned from using funeral chapels

May 31, 2025, Spain

In May 2025, the Federation of Evangelical Religious Entities of Spain (FEREDE) filed a formal complaint with the Spanish ombudsman, denouncing discrimination against the evangelical community in Spain, including a ban on using funeral chapels.

Vandals Assault Parishioner And Destroy Church Window During Choir Practice

May 30, 2025, United Kingdom

On 30 May, 2025, a choir member was physically assaulted and a historic stained-glass window was broken during an evening rehearsal at St. Mary the Virgin Church in West Derby, Liverpool. This attack deeply shook both the choir members and the wider parish and raises concerns about personal safety in this sacred space.

Chapel and cemetery in Levens damaged by fires

May 26, 2025, France

The commune of Levens in the Alpes-Maritimes region of southeastern France experienced a series of deliberate fires targeting sacred sites. The Chapelle des Pénitents Noirs and the adjacent cemetery were both affected, with fires being started on the altar cloths in the chapel and in plastic flower pots in front of several graves. These acts of vandalism have left the local community in shock and mourning, particularly as some of the incidents occurred during visits to the cemetery on Mother's Day.

Catholic cemetery and chapel vandalised

May 21, 2025, Netherlands

The chapel and cemetery in Doorwerth were severely damaged. A statue of Mary was decapitated, a wooden cross bearing a figure of Jesus was smashed, and debris was scattered everywhere. This shocking act has left the faith community in disbelief.

Churches in Zweibrücken Repeatedly Targeted

May 19, 2025, Germany

In Zweibrücken, both Protestant and Catholic churches have been repeatedly vandalised, prompting concern among church leaders. Dean Peter Butz and Pastor Wolfgang Emanuel have reported ongoing damage to church buildings, including graffiti, smashed windows and cases of desecration.

Man assaulted in Berlin after revealing Christian faith

May 19, 2025, Germany

A 24-year-old man was attacked in Wedding, Berlin, after revealing that he was Christian. On the night of 19 May, he was approached by several individuals who asked him about his religious beliefs. After answering that he was Christian, he was physically assaulted and sustained serious injuries. The authorities are investigating the attack as an anti-Christian hate crime.

Church repeatedly vandalised

May 18, 2025, Germany

In recent weeks, the Catholic Church of St Michael in Ebersbach, has been repeatedly targeted by unknown vandals who have committed acts of arson and desecration. Between 1 and 18 May, intruders started small fires in various locations within the church, including the altar and pews, sometimes using matches and paper. Some of these fires were later extinguished with holy water. The most recent incident, which occurred on Sunday, 18 May, caused several hundred euros' worth of property damage, leaving burnt marks on the carpet near the ambo and signs of tampering throughout the sacred space.

Double arson attacks at Sweden's church

May 15, 2025, Sweden

In May 2025, the historic wooden church in Älvsbyn, Sweden, fell victim to two suspected arson attacks within a short period of time. The first incident occurred on 11 May, when the remains of a small fire were discovered on the church's porch. The second attack took place shortly before 3 am on 15 May, when a fire was started at the entrance to the church. The police are investigating the attacks as arson.

Repeated vandalism in Essen - Muslim youths start campaign to protect church

May 15, 2025, Germany

The church in Essen-Altendorf is increasingly being plagued by vandalism. The Kreuzeskirche, a historic Protestant church located in the city center, has recently been subjected to vandalism. Unknown perpetrators defaced the church's exterior by spray-painting a skull image on its walls adding to the problem of repeatedly broken windows.

Attempted arson at the Church of Sant'Agnese

May 12, 2025, Italy

Early on 12 May 2025, an attempted arson attack was carried out on the small church of Sant’Agnese in Città Sant’Angelo, Abruzzo. The wooden entrance door was set alight using a flammable liquid, but the quick action of local residents and firefighters prevented further damage. This incident followed an act of vandalism just four days earlier, when the glass of a votive shrine in the Crocifisso area was shattered.

Second arson attack on St Mary's Chapel in one year

May 12, 2025, Germany

On the evening of 12 May, St Mary's Chapel at St Margaret's Parish Church in Kahl am Main was targeted with arson for the second time this year. A church pew with seat cushions caught fire in a side wing of the building, causing toxic smoke to spread throughout the entire church. Although the flames had largely extinguished themselves by the time firefighters arrived, extensive smoke damage had been caused. The police are now searching for the arsonist.

Priest attacked by youths who threatened to set fire to his church

May 10, 2025, France

On the evening of 10 May, a group of young people approached the priest of the parish of Montfavet in Avignon and asked to enter the church, saying that they wanted to convert to Christianity. When they went in, they insulted the priest, shouted "Allah Akbar" and declared that they wanted to burn the building down, and then fled.

Repeat Vandalism Hits Church One Year On

May 10, 2025, Italy

The Church of Sant’Angelo Magno in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, was targeted by vandals for the second consecutive year. The perpetrators forced their way into the church and caused significant damage. Local residents, alerted by the noise, contacted the parish priest and the police. The swift response of the authorities caused the vandals to flee through the rear of the church.

Church attacked with stones after recent destruction of crib

May 9, 2025, Italy

The small countryside church of Madonna di Valverde in Dorgali, Sardinia, was vandalised when unknown individuals broke the door lock and threw stones inside. Although the altar and sacred objects were left untouched, this incident has shocked the local community, especially as it follows a series of similar occurrences in recent months. Just a month earlier, a marble nativity scene on the Carmel Hill was destroyed by hammer blows, a gesture against a religious symbol that shocked the local community.

Desecration of the chapel in the former dormitory

May 1, 2025, Poland

Someone broke into the interior of the chapel in historic dormitory in the old town of Mielec. Inside they destroyed and stole valuable liturgical objects and the monstrance. The altar cross was broken into pieces and left outside the chapel. A large amount of candle oil was spilled on the floor, which could point to an attempt at arson. The Curia of the Diocese of Tarnów, considering this scandalous event as an act of profanation, decided to close the chapel temporarily. All services were moved to another parish.

two-metre-high wooden cross cut down

May 1, 2025, France

In Curancy, Burgundy, on the night of 30 April, a two-metre-high wooden Christian cross was deliberately cut down and stolen from the woods. The vandals used a saw to cut it down and made off with it. Shocked by the incident, the mayor filed a police report, describing the act as 'a direct attack on a symbol of faith'.

Vandals leave trail of destruction in church

April 30, 2025, Italy

Vandals broke into the historic church of Pia Opera Pastore in Alcamo, Sicily, causing extensive damage to sacred art, objects and furnishings. Paintings were defaced, religious objects destroyed and the church left in disarray - an attack condemned by local officials as a serious offence against the community and its cultural and religious heritage.

Church in Alsace severely vandalised: €10,000 in damage

April 24, 2025, France

On the night of 24 April, the collegiate church of Saint-Martin in Colmar was vandalised by an intruder who climbed through scaffolding, damaged sacred objects and left the church in disarray. Despite spending almost three hours inside and causing over €10,000 in damage, the perpetrator - who was caught on CCTV and reportedly under the influence of drugs - stole nothing. The incident shocked the local community and raised serious concerns about the protection of religious and cultural heritage.

Church closes after attacks on parish staff

April 23, 2025, Austria

The parish of Breitenfeld has had to severely restrict access to its church following repeated violent attacks against parish workers and acts of vandalism. An unknown man attacked a parish secretary, pushing her to the ground and kicking her several times. A few days later, a 74-year-old sexton was similarly attacked, suffering injuries so severe that he had to be hospitalised for several days. Vandalism to the church building was also confirmed. As a result, the church is now only open for mass, and there is a police presence.

Church and graveyard defaced with blasphemous graffiti

April 18, 2025, United Kingdom

On Good Friday, 18 April, St James' Church in Leyland, Lancashire, was vandalised with lewd images and anti-Christian messages. The graffiti included sexually graphic content, explicit blasphemy, and defaced both the church building and at least 40 gravestones in the churchyard with offensive statements such as "God is a lie".

Third attack on chapel in recent months

April 13, 2025, Italy

A votive shrine in Lonato del Garda has suffered its third act of vandalism in 3 months. In the latest incident, a wooden crucifix was torn from the wall and thrown away. Previously, a statue of the Madonna had been destroyed and a crucifix depicting Christ had been stolen.

Bible set alight on wooden altar

April 10, 2025, Germany

A Bible was set alight with a match in the Protestant church in Groß-Gerau. It was on the wooden altar, but did not burn down completely.

Protestant schools in France excluded from Erasmus+

April 10, 2025, France

In a written question to the European Commission, Dutch MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen raised concerns over France’s exclusion of private schools—including Protestant and Montessori institutions—from the EU’s Erasmus+ student mobility programme. He questioned how this policy aligns with the programme’s stated commitment to inclusivity for both public and private educational institutions. In its response on 10 April, the European Commission reaffirmed that Erasmus+ is designed to be inclusive. However, it ultimately placed responsibility on national authorities, stating that France is within its rights to define eligibility criteria for participation.

Vandals damage several churches in Odenwald region

April 8, 2025, Germany

In the Odenwald region, several churches were attacked by vandals. At a church in Schweinberg, the stucco decoration on the high altar was broken off and thrown to the ground. Vandals also left cigarette butts and damaged collection boxes.

Religious statue damaged