All cases

Filtered by: Vandalism (form of hate crime)

Jesuit Church in Straubing Vandalised

October 10, 2025, Germany

Unknown individuals forcibly entered the Jesuit Church in Straubing, Germany, overturned pews and damaged interior grilles.

Arson Attack on Evangelical Church in Frenkendorf

October 9, 2025, Switzerland

A 36-year-old Swiss man was arrested after allegedly setting fire to the Evangelical Reformed Church of St. Margaretha in Frenkendorf, Switzerland, damaging pews and interior structures.

Church in Aldingen Defiled After Failed Burglary Attempt

October 5, 2025, Germany

After breaking into a Protestant church in Aldingen, Germany, unknown individuals urinated in the sanctuary and caused property damage when no valuables were found.

Church in Neustadt/Wied Vandalised

October 1, 2025, Germany

Unkown individuals entered the Church of St. Margarita and caused extensive damage inside. The police issued a statement seeking for witnesses.

Vandalism of Catholic Churches in Munich with White Paint Graffiti

September 29, 2025, Germany

In the night between 28 and 29 September 2025, several Catholic church buildings in Munich were vandalised with white paint graffiti, including slogans such as “God is dead”.

Religious statue beheaded in Cathedral

August 31, 2025, Germany

In 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, Germany

Unidentified 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, Italy

The 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, Italy

Due 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, Spain

On 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, France

A 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, Spain

Just 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, Germany

On 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, Italy

During 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, Germany

In 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, Germany

Vandals 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, Italy

Vandals 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, France

The 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, Germany

A 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, France

On 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.