Europe sees surge in May hate crimes, arson attacks hit record high

Anti-Christian hate crimes saw a significant surge across Europe in May, with arson attacks reaching the highest monthly figure recorded this year. According to OIDAC Europe, a total of 37 anti-Christian hate crimes occurred in May, targeting churches, Christian institutions, religious symbols, and individual believers.

Arson attacks against Christian facilities increased in May, with OIDAC Europe recording 13 such incidents across Europe during the month. Investigations were launched into fires at several closed church buildings in Warrington, UK, and arson-related incidents were also reported in Ireland. Germany recorded four arson attacks, Italy also saw four, and France registered three. Specifically, arson incidents in Germany took place in Marbach, Munich, Delmenhorst, and Gladbeck. In Genoa, Italy, the San Siro Cathedral was defaced with anti-clerical graffiti that included a message calling to burn churches. In Krosno, Poland, an arson attempt was made on a chapel, damaging an icon of 'Our Lady of Perpetual Help'.

Of the 37 anti-Christian hate crimes analyzed by OIDAC Europe in May, 13 were classified as arson, 10 as vandalism, 3 as desecration of sacred objects, 1 as disruption of worship, 3 as physical assault, 1 as incitement, 3 as theft of sacred objects, and 3 involved property damage and violence. By country, Germany reported the highest number of incidents with 10, followed by Italy and France with 8 each. Additional incidents were confirmed in Poland, Ireland, Austria, Portugal, Spain, Greece, the UK, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

At the Holy Spirit Church in Hanau, Germany, attackers fired shots with metal and plastic pellets at the church building, breaking several windows while approximately 200 worshippers attended mass. In Poland, a nun was reportedly assaulted at a bus stop and had her crucifix stolen from around her neck. In Innsbruck, Austria, two Catholic university students were seriously injured in an assault allegedly involving individuals linked to the far-left. In Cantanhede, Portugal, a priest was held captive for about 1 hour and 30 minutes during a robbery of the church and its rectory. In Chania, Greece, a historical church bell tower was damaged by shotgun fire.

Beyond physical attacks on buildings, OIDAC Europe noted several incidents related to ongoing hostility towards Christians and Christian organizations. A cafe operated by Christians in Leipzig, Germany, recently closed down after enduring 26 separate incidents over two and a half years. The cafe's management stated that the repeated vandalism, graffiti, and butyric acid attacks had made the business financially unsustainable. Recent figures submitted to the Greek Parliament show that 4,409 incidents affecting Orthodox Church property have been recorded in Greece between 2015 and 2024, accounting for over 96% of all incidents related to religious facilities in the country.