A video showing a masked man smashing a statue of Jesus Christ has surfaced online. According to L’Écho Chrétien, the incident took place at the Gerardus Majellakerk (St. Gerard Majella Church) in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
The suspect reportedly entered the church unobstructed and pushed the statue off its pedestal, breaking one of its arms. The church, which remains open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., allowed the vandal easy access to the premises.
Condemning the incident, Spanish Member of the European Parliament Hermann Tertsch accused authorities of “concealing and abetting the destruction of churches, convents, and chapels” in a post on X on Monday.
Local media reported that the man’s mouth was covered and his hood pulled tight. Brother Ignatius, former pastor of the church, told reporters that it was “a miracle that the beloved statue was not completely destroyed.” Acts of anti-Christian vandalism have been increasing across Europe, though perpetrators are rarely identified or brought to justice. Some commentators link these incidents to growing social tensions and unrest surrounding immigration. Earlier this month, an anti-immigration protest in The Hague involving more than 1,500 Dutch citizens turned violent, resulting in injuries to police officers and journalists.