Monthly Hate Crime Report
Religious Liberty — Europe
February 2026 · Published March 2026
FFN Staff · Via OIDAC Europe
Europe — 10 Countries Recorded
34 Anti-Christian Hate Crimes in One Month: Europe’s Alarming February
The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe recorded 34 verified anti-Christian hate crimes in February 2026 — including 11 arson attacks, 17 acts of vandalism, physical violence against faith defenders, and the satanic desecration of churches — spanning ten countries across the continent.
OIDAC Europe — Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe
Monthly Analysis — Anti-Christian Violent Incidents · February 2026
Published: March 2026
34
Total Verified Hate Crimes
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The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC Europe) has released its monthly analysis for February 2026, documenting 34 anti-Christian hate crimes targeting places of worship, religious symbols, and — in one case — Christian individuals engaged in a public activity.
The recorded incidents comprise 17 cases of vandalism, 11 arson-related attacks, 3 cases of desecration, 2 thefts specifically targeting sacred objects, and 1 case of physical violence against Christians. Beyond these verified hate crimes, OIDAC also recorded 46 additional cases of theft, break-ins, or property damage during the same period that lacked a clearly identifiable anti-Christian bias and were not included in the official count.
🔥 Arson Wave — 11 Deliberate Fire Attacks in February
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Loiret, France — Police opened an investigation after the altar of a parish church was deliberately set on fire. In a separate incident, two fires were intentionally lit inside the historic Basilica of Saint-Nicolas-de-Port, forcing full evacuation.
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Ede, Netherlands — Three churches were deliberately set on fire within five days, prompting increased security measures and the arrest of a suspect. One of the most concentrated series of arson attacks recorded in the report.
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Amtzell, Germany — Grave crosses inside a cemetery prayer hall were deliberately set on fire, damaging significant Christian burial symbols.
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Vatican City / Felizzano, Italy — A man was arrested at St Peter’s Basilica carrying flammable substances and ignition devices during a papal Mass, linked to previous church fires in Rome. In Felizzano, unknown individuals attempted to set fire to the historic Church of San Rocco.
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Stockholm, Sweden — A priest discovered and personally prevented an attempt to set fire to a Catholic church in southern Stockholm.
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Scotland & West London, UK — A historic former church in Camelon, Scotland, suffered severe fire damage. The former King’s Hall Methodist Church in Southall, West London, was also severely damaged in a suspected arson attack.
Incidents by Country — February 2026
2 Arson
4 Vandalism
1 Desecration
1 Theft
Includes destruction of Virgin Mary statue at Bois-le-Roi cemetery; altarfire in Loiret; and basilica arson in Saint-Nicolas-de-Port.
2 Arson
3 Vandalism
1 Desecration
1 Theft
Includes arrest at St Peter’s Basilica with flammable devices and repeated vandalism of a parish oratory in Quattro Castella.
1 Arson
4 Vandalism
1 Violence
Includes violent attack on a Christian pro-life event in Koblenz, leaving two volunteers hospitalised.
2 Arson
2 Vandalism
Includes Scotland church arson, West London Methodist church arson, and smashing of artefacts inside St Alphonsus RC Church in Glasgow.
3 Arson
Three churches in Ede deliberately set on fire within five days. A suspect was arrested.
2 Vandalism
Historic Santa Susana Church in Santiago defaced with graffiti; Immaculate Conception convent in Navarre repeatedly targeted.
1 Attempted Arson
1 Vandalism
St Olof’s Church in Falköping again vandalised — part of a pattern of repeated attacks on the same site.
1 Desecration
Poznań: exterior wall of a Roman Catholic church covered with satanic symbols and the threat: “this church will burn.”
1 Vandalism
Gardiki: vandals broke into the cemetery Church of All Saints and destroyed the Holy Altar while reportedly searching for hidden valuables.
Threatening Graffiti
Teslić: threatening graffiti with ethnic and religious implications written on the exterior wall of St Joseph’s Catholic Church.
Three Key Patterns — February 2026
OIDAC Europe — Observed Trends This Month
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Persistent High-Volume Arson — Eleven arson-related attacks in a single month, with fires deliberately set inside churches or directly targeting liturgical spaces such as altars and prayer halls. This pattern goes well beyond ordinary property crime.
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Targeting of Sacred & Symbolic Objects — Multiple incidents specifically targeted objects with strong religious or liturgical significance: the complete destruction of a statue of the Virgin Mary in France, the burning of grave crosses in Germany, and the destruction of a Holy Altar in Greece.
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Repeated Targeting of the Same Sites — In Ede (Netherlands), three churches were attacked within days. In Sweden, Italy, and the UK, specific churches experienced multiple incidents during the same period — a pattern that intensifies the psychological and security impact on local communities.
“Ensuring the protection of religious sites and the free and safe exercise of religion remains an important responsibility for public authorities and local communities alike. The patterns observed highlight ongoing security concerns affecting Christian places of worship across Europe.”
— OIDAC Europe, Monthly Analysis — February 2026
Most Serious Incidents of the Month
Highlighted Cases — February 2026
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Vatican City, Italy — Arson Plot at St Peter’s
A man was arrested at St Peter’s Basilica during a papal Mass after attempting to enter carrying flammable substances and ignition devices. Investigators believe he may be linked to previous fires set at churches in Rome.
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Ede, Netherlands — Three Churches in Five Days
Three separate churches in the same town were deliberately set on fire within a five-day window, prompting heightened security measures across the region and the arrest of a suspect.
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Koblenz, Germany — Violent Attack on Pro-Life Event
A Christian pro-life information event was attacked, leaving two volunteers requiring hospital treatment. One of only two cases of physical violence against Christians documented this month.
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Poznań, Poland — Satanic Symbols & Death Threat
The exterior wall of a Roman Catholic church was covered with satanic symbols and threatening graffiti — including the explicit message: “this church will burn.”
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Bois-le-Roi, France — Virgin Mary Statue Destroyed
A statue of the Virgin Mary at Bois-le-Roi cemetery was completely destroyed in an act of targeted vandalism — one of several incidents specifically aimed at objects of deep religious significance.
Read the Full Report
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