All cases

Vandals Damage Protestant Baroque Church in Gersfeld

January 5, 2026, Germany

On January 5, vandals entered the Lutheran Baroque church in Gersfeld on 5 January and caused deliberate damage to the building.

Suspected Arson at Neunkirchen Church

January 2, 2026, Germany

On the morning of 2 January 2026, a fire broke out at the Protestant Christuskirche in the centre of Neunkirchen, Saarland. Due to the significant amount of smoke caused by the fire, it took the fire brigade several hours to ventilate the building. Police are investigating the suspected arson attack.

Vienna Church Repeatedly Targeted by Graffiti Vandalism

December 30, 2025, Austria

St. Johann Evangelist Church in Vienna was defaced with graffiti on December 30, 2025, including Arabic writing and an Antifa symbol. Police launched an investigation amid political condemnation and reports of repeated targeting of the site.

Gunfire and Explosive Device Damaged Church Entrance

December 28, 2025, Italy

Unknown individuals fired gunshots and detonated an explosive device at the secondary entrance of the San Filippo Neri church in Palermo’s Zen neighborhood.

Arson Attempt Inside German Church on Christmas

December 25, 2025, Germany

Unknown individuals ignited torn pages from prayer books on the church gallery in St. Maria, Haßlach, causing scorch marks and wax damage to the pews below. Thankfully, the fire did not spread, but the church suffered property damage.

Christ Child Figure Found Hanging by the Neck

December 21, 2025, Poland

On 21 December, a figure of the Christ Child was found hanging by the neck in a nativity scene in the market square of Bolesławiec. Surveillance footage showed hooded individuals entering the scene and tying the doll to a rope in the manner of a gallows.

Swastika Carved Into Evangelical Church Facade

December 14, 2025, Germany

Police opened a criminal investigation after unknown perpetrators etched a Nazi symbol into the wall of a church in Lower Saxony.

Anti-Christian Graffiti Targets the Basilica of Carmine in Florence

December 8, 2025, Italy

In Florence, black spray-painted graffiti stating “The only church that enlightens is the one that burns” and featuring the anarchist circled “A” appeared on the construction coverings of the Carmine Basilica.

Suspected Arson at Bologna Church

December 8, 2025, Italy

Authorities in Bologna investigated a fire at the Santuario in via del Borgo San Pietro, where flames engulfed the hedges surrounding the Catholic Church’s garden, prompting suspicions of arson.

Church Nativity Desecrated and Parishioners Threatened

December 8, 2025, Spain

Police detained a man after he disrupted a Catholic service by removing nativity figures, striking the altar, profaning liturgical garments, shouting in Arabic through the church microphone, and attempting to attack parishioners before being restrained outside.

Priest's Car Set on Fire Weeks after Church Vandalism

December 4, 2025, Italy

An arson attack destroyed the parish priest’s vehicle in Francofonte, following earlier vandalism against the church grounds.

Left-Wing Extremists Attack Church Over Anti-Abortion Stance

December 3, 2025, Germany

Radical activists smashed windows and spray-painted “218 abtreiben” on the Free Evangelical Church Kassel-Ost, citing its support for unborn life as the motive.

Church Nativity Figures Vandalised

December 3, 2025, Spain

Acts of vandalism targeted Christmas decorations at Villar de Olalla, damaging religious symbols and prompting a municipal appeal for information.

Arson Attack at Fonsorbes Church

December 3, 2025, France

Two altar cloths were set on fire inside Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church in Fonsorbes, Occitania, with straw from the Christmas nativity scene reportedly moved to fuel the flames.

Arson Attack at Laindon Church

November 27, 2025, United Kingdom

Authorities investigated a deliberate fire at a Laindon church previously subjected to repeated racist vandalism.

Altar Statues Deliberately Damaged

November 26, 2025, Italy

Authorities detained a 55-year-old man in Parabiago after he entered a parish church and toppled statues on the altar.

Amiens Christmas Market Nativity Scene Vandalised

November 26, 2025, France

The nativity scene at the Christmas market in Amiens was vandalised during the night of 25-26 November 2025: several statuettes — including the figure of the infant Jesus — were broken, leading to public indignation and closure of the display.

Desecration of Bodies and Tombs at Catholic Cemetery in Alhos Vedros

November 26, 2025, Portugal

Ten bodies were desecrated after mausoleums were broken into at a Catholic cemetery in Portugal. While cemetery vandalism had occurred before, the parish priest said that this incident was of an unprecedented scale. The local bishop condemned the act as a “sacrilegious gesture”.

Chapel Vandalized with Racist Graffiti and Symbols

November 22, 2025, Italy

Masked vandals defaced the Santa Lucia chapel in Pianella with racist and vulgar graffiti, prompting police investigation and municipal condemnation.

Tabernacle Stolen and Statue of Mary Damaged

November 19, 2025, Spain

Thieves broke into the Los Urrutias church in Cartagena, stole the tabernacle, and damaged the statue of the Virgin del Carmen, which they left in the streets.