All cases
Religious statue beheaded in Cathedral
August 31, 2025, GermanyIn the Trier Cathedral, a renaissance apostle statue was beheaded and its head stolen. The incident prompting an investigation and concern over preservation of religious heritage.
Church in Germany Vandalised Twice in 24 Hours.
August 30, 2025, GermanyUnidentified vandals flooded the basement and defaced the entrance of Martini Church in Siegen on two consecutive nights, prompting a police investigation.
Excrements Smeared on Church Wall
August 24, 2025, ItalyThe historic Sant’Antonio al Seggio church in Aversa was vandalised with human excrement near its entrance, prompting public outrage and calls for stronger protection of churches.
Churches in Carini Closed Amid Surge in Theft and Vandalism
August 18, 2025, ItalyDue to escalating thefts and vandalism, the archpriest of Carini has decided to close all churches when no religious services are scheduled, sparking concern over the loss of sacred community spaces.
Church in Granada vandalised and set on fire
August 17, 2025, SpainOn 17 August 2025, a 21-year-old man broke into the Church of Santiago Apóstol in El Pozuelo, Albuñol (Granada), smashing a stained glass window with a hammer. He then proceeded to destroy religious artefacts and set fire to items belonging to the church before locking himself inside.
Two Churches Attacked by Knife-Wielding Man, Disrupting Mass
August 16, 2025, FranceA suspected drug addict armed with a Swiss Army knife desecrated two churches near Paris, terrifying worshippers and resisting arrest.
Church in Spain Vandalised Ahead of Patron Saint Festivities
August 11, 2025, SpainJust days before the Virgen del Carmen festivities in Rute, the parish of Santa Catalina was vandalised with black paint being spilled across its main entrance.
Vandalism of Wooden Statue
July 29, 2025, GermanyOn July 29, unknown individuals entered the church, damaged a wooden statue as well as the interior plaster, and then fled without being identified. The damage is estimated at several hundred euros. The motives for the act are still under investigation.
Anti-Christian slogan and satanic symbols on Church in Pesaro
July 27, 2025, ItalyDuring the weekend of July 27, the facade of the Maddalena Church of Pesaro was defaced with the phrase “Clean churches, silent people,” along with a pentagram, which is commonly used as Satanic symbol, and black paint drawings resembling foetuses.
Vandalism of Catholic Academy and Church ahead of Award to Bishop Barron
July 27, 2025, GermanyIn the days leading up to the Josef‑Pieper Prize ceremony in Münster, vandals sprayed slogans on the Franz‑Hitze‑Haus academy and local church and defaced several Christian statues with red paint. State security has since launched an investigation.
Cross sawn up and corpus placed upside down
July 25, 2025, GermanyVandals sawed down a roughly two-metre-high cross outside a church in Bann, desecrated the figure of Christ, and urinated in the sacristy—prompting shock in the local community and an ongoing police investigation.
Historic Chapel in Limbiate Vandalized Overnight
July 25, 2025, ItalyVandals broke into the small chapel at Villa Pusterla in Mombello di Limbiate and destroyed interior fixtures, decapitating the statue of Saint Anthony. Officials confirmed the incident as intentional vandalism and urged improved security.
Arson attack on the Notre-Dame-des-Champs Church in Paris
July 24, 2025, FranceThe Church of Notre-Dame-des-Champs in Paris was closed to the public after two fires occurred within 48 hours on July 23 and 24, 2025. One of the fires was confirmed to be of criminal origin. Authorities launched an investigation while restoration has begun on the damaged interior.
Arson at Germany's Largest Wooden Church
July 20, 2025, GermanyA fire damaged the facade and roof truss of the Evangelical Marktkirche in Clausthal-Zellerfeld on the night of July 20, 2025, in what officials later determined to be arson.
Arson and Break-in: Repeated targeting of churches in Sierck-les-Bains
July 13, 2025, FranceOn the night of 13 July, the room adjoining the church in Sierck-les-Bains was vandalised. The white plastic door was completely destroyed. A week earlier, two teenagers had been arrested for setting fire to a chapel in the same municipality.
Vandalism in Münster church leads to restricted opening hours
July 10, 2025, GermanyAs reported on 10 July, St. Bonifatius Church in Münster will remain closed outside of services due to a series of troubling acts of vandalism. According to the local pastor, Dr Heike Köhler, the building has repeatedly been defiled with faeces and littered with broken beer bottles. There have also been incidents of arson. Most recently, photographs of baptism candidates were deliberately set on fire.
Vandalism in Velen church
July 8, 2025, GermanyRepeated 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.
Arson at the pilgrimage chapel in Friedberg
July 8, 2025, GermanyUnknown individuals deliberately set multiple small fires inside the Maria Alber chapel in Friedberg-West. On the evening of 8 July, several pieces of partially burned paper, including church leaflets, newspapers and torn pages from the chapel's prayer book, were found under pews and near the candle stands. Parish officials have reported growing unease among community members, as this is not the first arson attack in recent weeks.
Vandals Wreck Church Hall
July 7, 2025, United KingdomA Church Hall in Northern Ireland was left in ruins after a nighttime break-in. Windows were smashed, religious texts thrown out, and food smeared across the interior—prompting community outrage and a police investigation.
Altar of church in Lido vandalised
July 6, 2025, ItalyUnknown 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.