All cases
Man Set Fire around and inside Bordeaux-Caudéran church
January 27, 2024, FranceOn January 27, a man set a fire outside of the church in a bin before going inside the church and trying to set the altar on fire. He also attempted to set fire to a chair. He was quickly stopped by parishioners before the police came and arrested him.
Analysis: Increased anti-Christian vandalism during the Christmas season
January 26, 2024, ItalyOIDAC Europe's analysis shows an increase of anti-Christian incidents over Christmas. Next to tightened security due to terrorism threats to some major churches in European cities, a high number of vandalism of nativity scenes in Italy is raising concerns.
Eggs Thrown at Church
January 26, 2024, GermanyAn unknown perpetrator threw eggs at the entrance doors of a church. This caused property damage and the police are investigating for the offense of disrupting the practice of religion.
Vandalism at St. Peter and Paul church Lindenberg
January 26, 2024, GermanyAn unknown perpetrator threw rotten eggs at the five doors of St. Peter and Paul church Lindenberg. The parish priest said he did not believe that this was simply a joke by youth. This is not the first time the church has been targeted.
Thieves Steal Cross and Statutes from Salford Church
January 22, 2024, United KingdomA statue of Jesus on a crucifix was stolen from outside a church using an electric saw. Along with a kneeling angel and a kneeling figure of St Bernadette.
Metropolitan Longin attacked in Bancheny
January 22, 2024, UkraineOn the night of January 22, 2024, an unknown person attacked the Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Longinus of Bancheny, severely striking the bishop in the face. Metropolitan Longin lost consciousness, and surgery was performed on his eyelids.
Basque Protest Group Interrupts Mass and Vandalises Churches
January 21, 2024, SpainMembers of "Defentsa Komunitatea", a youth section of the Basque independence and nationalist movement, interrupted a mass throwing leaflets and fake money. During the last weeks some churches in Azpeitia and Beasain, as well as churches in Lasao, Arroa and Aizarna, have also been vandalized by members of that same group.
Vandalism to the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary
January 21, 2024, RussiaIn the Kalininsky district of St. Petersburg, vandals painted the walls of the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Peter the Great Polytechnic University (SPbPU). The archpriest said that unknown persons painted offensive slogans on the wall of the building. The police are currently investigating.
Cemetery vandalism
January 16, 2024, SpainOn January 16, some hooded men, during the early morning, destroyed the graves and tore off crosses and other religious images from the cemetery of Espinardo, Murcia, in order to steal them.
Parish priest in Varapodio physically attacked
January 15, 2024, ItalyOn January 15, Father Giovanni Rigoli, the parish priest of Varapodio, was attacked and intimidated after a funeral service at the parish church of Santo Stefano.
Vandalism and Desecration of Bible in Ossingen Church
January 14, 2024, SwitzerlandOver the weekend of 13-14 January, the Reformed Church in Ossingen (Weinland Mitte) was vandalised. According to local news reports, the perpetrator also tried to set fire to the Bible on display.
Church walls vandalised with Nazi symbols
January 13, 2024, PolandOn 13 January 2024, the walls of the Protestant Church of Peace in Świdnica, Lower Silesia, were vandalised and painted with Nazi symbols and slogans insulting Prime Minister Donald Tusk. One suspect has been arrested.
Teaching Assistant Wins Legal Case After Being Fired for Street Preaching
January 12, 2024, United KingdomIn March 2022, Andy Nix, 65, was called to the headteacher's office from Temple Moor High School and interrogated about his street preaching in the summer of 2021. This happened after some students complained that his street preaching made them feel "unsafe". He was fired on the spot and had to leave the school premises immediately. Supported by the Christian Legal Centre (CLC), Mr Nix took legal action against the school claiming harassment, discrimination and a breach of his right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion under Article 9 of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR). Now, the school decided to settle the case and pay him £7,000 in compensation instead of going to trial.
UPDATE: Prosecutor Will Take Päivi Räsänen Case to The Supreme Court
January 12, 2024, FinlandAfter the Court of Appeal cleared Päivi Räsänen of all charges in November 2023, the prosecutor has decided to take the case against the Finnish politician to the Supreme Court of Finland. The case started back in 2019 due to do social media postings by Mrs. Räsänen, in which she quoted a bible verse and asked the Finnish Lutheran Church to stop the support of the Helsinki Gay Pride Parade. Part of the charges were also directed against the Lutheran bishop Juhana Pohjola, who published a booklet by Mrs Räsänen about the Christian teaching on marriage and family.
Prayer book set on fire in church
January 12, 2024, GermanyOn January 12, someone set fire to a prayer book in the Weihenlinden church in Germany. Thanks to the quick action of the people who were in the church, the damage was limited to a few pages of the book. Earlier, two children had pointed out a man smoking next to the book of wishes. The police have launched an investigation and are appealing for witnesses.
Fire set on church of San Matteo
January 9, 2024, ItalyOn January 9, someone set fire to wooden pallets leaning against the walls of the Salesian Oratory of San Matteo in Messina, Italy. The fire blackened the walls of the church and the pavement. The incident was reported to the police by the oratory's director, Don Gabriele Cardaciatto. "We consider certain behaviours to be absurd and unseemly incivility," said Raffaele Verso, President of the V Municipality of Messina.
St. John Church in Barcelona vandalised by left-wing group
January 9, 2024, SpainOn January 9, the church of Saint John in Barcelona, Spain, was vandalised by the left-wing organisation ARRAN. The church is considered a cultural asset of the city. The incident was published in X by and several users called for ARRAN to be fined.
Hosts and sacred objects stolen
January 8, 2024, ItalyOn January 8, between 2am and 4am, thieves broke into the sanctuary of Beata Vergine dell'Olmo in Portomaggiore, Italy, and stole hosts, sacred objects, video and sound equipment, and damaged the interior of the church. When the parish priest, Don Ugo Berti, went to prepare for the first mass of the day at 6.30am he found the church door open. At first he thought it was an accident, but then he saw that the entrance had been forced open in several places. He quickly alerted the authorities. "I am afraid it was a theft on behalf of Satanists: the hosts could be used to celebrate black masses," the parish priest said.
Arson to Monastery in Stavronikita, Greece
January 8, 2024, GreeceOn January 8, the Holy Monastery of Stavronikita on Mount Athos suffered an arson attack. A 63-year-old man has been arrested, after being reported by one of the monks as the suspected perpetrator, and he confessed to being involved in the arson attack.
Arson to Church in Pula, Croatia
January 7, 2024, CroatiaOn January 7, unknown perpetrators started a fire in front of the church in Pula. As a witness reported, the vandals placed two burning boards in front of the large wooden door, which was quickly engulfed by the fire. The police have started an investigation and are looking for the perpetrators. The church held a mass on the same day to pray for the ones who committed the act.
"God doesn't exist" graffiti sprayed on Mendigorría church
January 6, 2024, SpainOn the eve of Epiphany, the church in Mendigorría, Spain, was spray-painted with two graffiti reading "God does not exist".
Windows of St Jame's Church repeatedly smashed
January 5, 2024, United KingdomThe stained galss windows of St James's Church in west London have been repeatedly smashed accross five nights. In total, they have been broken through 16 times. In some cases the panes have been damaged, in others they have been completely destroyed.
Man caused £35,000 worth of damage to church windows
January 5, 2024, United KingdomOver the course of five nights, an individual repeatedly attacked St James' church in London, damaging virtually every panel of the church's window. Some panels have been completely destroyed, others badly damaged.
ISIS issues global call to kill Jews and Christians
January 4, 2024, InternationalOn Thursday, January 4, the IS militia once again claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack in Kerman, Iran. It also issued a global call to attack Jews and Christians, particularly in Europe and the US. In a recorded message, the spokesperson of ISIS, Abu Huzaifa Al-Ansari, urged extremist Islamists to kill "Christians, Jews and their allies in the streets of Europe, the United States and the world." He also specifically called for targeting churches.
Recidivist thief arrested for church burglary
January 4, 2024, PolandIn Łomża, Poland, a 28-year-old man was arrested. In December, he "broke the display case of the painting of Our Lady of Częstochowa and stole the decorations from inside".
Cross in Tarnów vandalised
January 4, 2024, PolandA roadside cross with a figure of Christ was found vandalised in Tarnów, Poland. The corpus on the cross has been severely damaged.
Nativity scene in Turin destroyed
January 4, 2024, ItalyOn January 4, the nativity scene and Christmas tree were destroyed in an act of vandalism in the 5th district of Turin. The president of the district, Enrico Crescimanno, announced that an investigation would be launched to identify the vandals. He also described the act as "a disgraceful gesture against the representation of the Nativity".
Statue of Jesus stolen from Nativity Scene - and Returned
January 4, 2024, ItalyOn New Year's Eve, the the statue of Infant Jesus was stolen from a nativity shrine on Umberto I Square in Orbassano, near Turin. However, on January 4 the statue reappeared on the steps of St. John the Baptist Parish with a letter of apology: "I apologise for the stupid gesture. Please put it back where it belongs. Thank you".
Arson attack on Lutheran church in Halle
January 3, 2024, GermanyOn January 3, a Lutheran church in Halle, Germany, was set on fire. The police assume it was an arson attack. "Witnesses became aware of the fire at the entrance to the church and were able to prevent the fire from spreading further", said the police spokesperson. As a result of the arson attack, the entrance door is damaged. The police is investigating the case.
Statue of Infant Jesus thrown into Garda Lake
January 3, 2024, ItalyVandals attacked a Nativity scene in Salò, Italy. The figure of the Infant Jesus from the Nativity Scene of the local fire brigade was thrown into the Garda Lake between the 2nd and 3rd of January. The friends of the Salò fire brigade comment that "the baby Jesus was uprooted from his cradle and thrown into the waters in front of the site designated to house the Nativity." They also reported that the figure of St Joseph was also replaced.
Cologne Cathedral Terrorist Attack Plot uncovered
January 2, 2024, GermanyA plot to bomb Cologne's Catholic cathedral has been uncovered by police. "The attack was to have been carried out with a car packed with explosives," the local media announced. As a result of the plot, five men were arrested between 26 and 31 December, all of them allegedly linked to Islamic extremists. The Cologne police spokesman said that the police would maintain security at the cathedral.
Nativity Scene in Jastrzebie Destroyed
January 2, 2024, PolandBetween 1 and 2 January, the Jastrzębie-Zdrój Municipal Police Station received a report concerning devastation of a nativity scene. Four figurines were damaged and another two figurines were stolen and then destroyed by smashing, officers said.
Statue of Jesus stolen from Nativity Scene
January 2, 2024, FranceIn the church of Saint-Etienne de Faux-la-Montagne, the figure of the Christ Child was stolen from the crib of the nativity scene. The theft was discovered by the parish priest on 2 January.
Nativity scene Figures beheaded in Florence
January 2, 2024, ItalyEvery year dozens of nativity scenes are set up along the Via dei Presepi. This Christmas, one of them was found with eight out of ten human figures decapitated, as it was reported by the police on January 2nd. The figures of the animals were also damaged. The incident has been described as a "sacrilegious surgical act". This event was also communicated on social media by the councillor, Susi Giglioli.
Arson attack on St John the Evangelist church
January 1, 2024, United KingdomFire was set to St John the Evangelist church in Enfield. Forty firefighters were needed to extinguish the fire. It has been confirmed by the police that this was an arson attack. The fire started by the high altar and damaged stained-glass windows and artefacts.
Statue of Jesus from Nativity Scene Beheaded
January 1, 2024, ItalyOn January 1st, unknown vandals smashed the statue of the Child Jesus in Gorla Maggiore, Italy, in broad daylight. Mayor Pietro Zappamiglio expressed "great sadness and bitterness at what has happened." It is hoped that the vandals were caught on church cameras.
Burglar robs church and damages valuable statue
January 1, 2024, PolandOn New Year's Day, a man stole money from a church in Sopot, Poland. During the robbery he broke a valuable figure worth more than 1,000 PLN.
Vandals smash 25 windows at church
January 1, 2024, Germany25 windows of St John's Church in Salzhausen were damaged by vandals at the beginning of January. Unknown persons had smashed the windows with fist-sized rocks and caused damage of 42,000 euros.
Sacred objects stolen from Kassel church
December 31, 2023, GermanySacred objects were stolen from the chapel of the Apostles of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Kassel, Germany, on 31 December, according to police. The thieves also caused damage to the church. The identity of the burglars is unknown and the police are still looking for witnesses.
The statue of the Infant Jesus was decapitated in Alliste
December 31, 2023, ItalyIt was reported that on New Year's Eve, unknown perpetrators vandalised the nativity scene of the parish church of San Quintino in Alliste, targeting the statue of the infant Jesus. The parish priest commented: "An outburst by our children that should make us reflect".
Nativity Scene Vandalised with Blue Paint
December 31, 2023, GermanyOn January 4, a nativity scene was vandalised with blue paint outside the parish church of Großenbach-Hünfeld, Germany. The local community is shocked about the incident.
Statue of St John of Nepomuk repeatedly vandalised
December 31, 2023, PolandOn the night of 31 December to 1 January, unknown perpetrators destroyed a statue of St John of Nepomuk on Odmętowa Street in Kraków. This is the second such incident in a short period of time. A similar incident occurred in April 2023, just before Easter.
Three churches in Bauska broken into
December 31, 2023, LatviaBetween 30 and 31 December, three churches in Bauska were broken into. As the locks were broken, there was material damage in addition to the stolen goods.
Figure of Jesus stolen from nativity scene
December 31, 2023, GermanyThe figure of the Infant Jesus has been stolen from the nativity scene in the Church of Christ in Niebull, Germany. The caretaker of the nativity scene, Ursula Mast-Christiansen, is appealing for the baby Jesus to be returned immediately.
Via Crucis vandalised in Mavignola
December 31, 2023, ItalyIn the night from December 31 to January 1, unknown perpetrators have damaged the stations of the Via Crucis, defacing them and committing severe vandalism. According to the councilor of the Municipality of Pinzolo, Luca Vidi, the statue of Christ was stolen from the first of the stations of the cross. Other stations have been defaced with "unrepeatable slogans" against "the Church, Christianity and the Pope". "Some people are not educated as they should be, and there is no respect for the common heritage, ignoring the fact that it was created with everyone's efforts," the councillor commented.
Statue of Mary Vandalised for the Second Time
December 31, 2023, HungaryOn New Year's Eve a newly restored statue of Mary has been vandalised for the second time in Dunavecse, Hungary. Unknown perpetrators smashed the head of the statue and trampled its pieces.
Another Nativity scene vandalised in Italy
December 31, 2023, ItalyOn New Year's Eve, vandals destroyed the nativity scene in Campogalliano, Italy. The crib was built by local volunteers. Unknown vandals destroyed the figures and also damaged a nearby bus station.
Nativity Scene Vandalism: Statue of Infant Jesus destroyed
December 31, 2023, ItalyA statue of the infant Jesus of the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie was found destroyed on New Year's Eve. The figure was found with its arm and head cut off. The head is still missing. The village, which has only 198 inhabitants, is wondering who could have done such a thing.
Baby Jesus Figure Beheaded and torn into pieces
December 31, 2023, ItalyAs it was reported at the end of December 2023, the nativity scene in Piazza della Repubblica in Monfalcone, Italy, has been attacked. The statuette of baby Jesus was found decapitated and smashed to pieces. The police are investigating. The mayor, Anna Maria Christi, said that everything is being done to find those responsible.
Cemetery vandalism and thefts: Berlin Police recorded 170 cases in 2023
December 31, 2023, Germany170 incidents of cemetery vandalism and thefts were recorded for the region of Berlin in 2023. These are the numbers the German Senate Department for the Interior and Sport published on July 29, 2024, responding to a parliamentary enquiry.