All cases

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.

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.

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.

500-year-old altar damaged

April 7, 2025, Germany

On 7 April, a vandal broke into the historic Abbey Church in Öhringen and seriously damaged the church's 500-year-old wooden high altar. The unknown offender broke off and destroyed the sword from a figure of the Apostle Paul and stole a valuable altar cloth.

Thousands in Damages Every Month

April 4, 2025, Germany

Churches in Cologne's city centre, including the iconic Cologne Cathedral, are regularly targeted by vandals, causing thousands of euros in damage each month. Dr Dominik Meiering, the leading priest for Cologne's inner city, expressed concern about the repeated desecration, theft and graffiti, describing it as a serious burden on the Church and a threat to its public mission.

Church walls defaced with Swastika

April 1, 2025, Germany

Between 30 March and 1 April, unknown persons sprayed graffiti on the walls of St Martin's Church in Hermeskeil. The graffiti included a swastika on the outside of the church.

Serious episodes of vandalism: Easter candle soiled with excrement

March 20, 2025, Germany

Several churches in the Kraichgau region have recently suffered damage. Kürnbach has been the victim of vandalism twice - someone relieved himself and damaged candles and the altar bible. In Zaisenhausen, six windows were smashed with stones. In Bretten-Büchig the organ was covered with a sticky liquid.

Desecration: Gave crosses turned upside down

March 2, 2025, Germany

Unknown perpetrators dug up seven grave crosses at the Erzhütten cemetery in Germany over the weekend and put them back in the ground upside down. According to police, at least two crosses and one grave were damaged.

Riot in church in Neheim

February 28, 2025, Germany

An unknown offender has vandalised the Catholic church of St John the Baptist in Neheim. The man destroyed a cross, broke off the head and arms of a figure of Jesus, knocked over candlesticks and tore and smeared tablecloths on the high altar. He also spilled liquids and scattered books on the floor.

Church organ vandalised twice in two months

February 6, 2025, Germany

After a first episode of vandalism of the organ of the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Bretten-Büchig in December 2024, a similar attack took place earlier this month. In both cases, an unknown perpetrator poured a large amount of liquid over the organ, causing around €6000 worth of damage. The church remained closed for several days after the incident.

Decapitated statue of Mary

January 30, 2025, Germany

Unknown perpetrators have damaged a statue of the Madonna in a chapel in Wasserburg am Inn in Upper Bavaria.

Vandals attack Neuenkirchen church during service and desecrate cemetery

January 24, 2025, Germany

At around 4.30pm on 24 January 2025, unknown individuals threw two stones through a window of the St Laurentius church in Neuenkirchen during a service. The following day, parishioners discovered that 14 graves in the nearby cemetery had been desecrated. The perpetrators had knocked over grave lamps and bronze vases, and destroyed porcelain figurines and vases with their feet. The police are investigating both attacks on the St Laurentius parish. The damage is estimated at €2,000.

Another attack on a church in the Sardinia region

January 23, 2025, Italy

On the night of 23 January, unknown assailants vandalised the church of San Francesco in Oristano. The Christian community in Sardinia has suffered numerous attacks on religious sites in recent weeks. The police are now investigating all the incidents.

Fire set to nativity scene in Ingolstadt

January 5, 2025, Germany

A nativity scene was burned and vandalised in the Catholic church of St Pius in Ingolstadt. The parish priest reported that "the stable was thrown over down and one figure was completely burnt".

Church closed due to vandalism

December 30, 2024, Germany

The town church in Lauterbach is closed to visitors due to vandalism. Two unidentified youths smashed two stained glass windows with lead frames. Several items have been stolen in recent incidents, including a Bible and an Easter candle.

Church walls defaced with graffiti

December 9, 2024, Germany

Between December 6-9, unknown perpetrators defaced the facade of a facade of the Catholic community center St. Christophorus with graffiti. The white graffiti defaced both the north and west sides of the church building.

Vandalism of religious symbols in church

November 28, 2024, Germany

As reported on 28 November, unknown persons threw the Easter candle against the wall of St Mary's Church in Waltrop, damaged altar objects, tore a prayer book and threw other objects around the church.

Cross demolished at Sehnde church

November 24, 2024, Germany

In the night of November 24, a grave cross at the Cross Church in Sehnde was desecrated and the lighting of the church was demolished

Vandalised church in Bodenwöhr

November 19, 2024, Germany

On the weekend of 18-19 November, the Church of St Mary (Marienkirche Blechhammer) in Bodenwöhr was robbed and vandalised by unknown persons. The rosaries on display were stolen or thrown into the holy water basin and the altar candles were thrown to the ground. Various other items were scattered around the church. The police are investigating.

Objects and prayer cards set on fire in church

November 4, 2024, Germany

Unknown persons have set fire to and damaged objects and prayer cards in a church in Kaufbeuren.