Police Arrest Suspect in Medjugorje Shrine Attack

A Polish national was arrested following Tuesday's vandalism at the Catholic pilgrimage site of Medjugorje. Authorities allege he set fire to the outdoor altar of St James Church and defaced the statue of the Virgin Mary on Podbrdo, smearing black paint over its face and hands. He also wrote derogatory messages on the pedestal, including claims that the alleged visionaries had lied.

According to Jutarnji, police from the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton cordoned off the area around Medjugorje and quickly tracked down the suspect in a field near the town of Cerno, where he was arrested.

Videos shared on social media captured the police intervention and the dramatic arrest. Security camera footage also showed a man pouring a flammable liquid over the outdoor altar before setting it on fire, helping investigators identify the suspect.

According to the Bljesak news website, parishioners and members of the Cenacolo community immediately organized a cleanup, removing the graffiti and repairing damage to both the altar and the statue of the Virgin Mary within a few hours.

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