Bosnia prosecution to take over Polish suspect of Medjugorje Virgin Mary desecration

The offence falls under Article 145b of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Prosecutor's Office announced it would seek pre-trial detention for the suspect.

The 31-year-old Polish national is currently being held in police custody in Ljubuski. His identity has been published on social media and by local media outlets, although the police have not commented on the matter.

He is due to be handed over on Wednesday to the state prosecutor, who will question him and decide on the next procedural steps.

The Polish national was arrested on Tuesday shortly before 1pm in the village of Cerno near Ljubuski following a police search launched after several incidents in Međugorje.

During the night, the statue of the Virgin Mary at Podbrdo Hill was covered in black paint, while numerous offensive messages were also written. A smaller statues was also desecrated. Shortly afterwards, the man also set fire to the outdoor altar of the Church of St James.

After being located, he was arrested in the village of Cerno, between Ljubuski and Čitluk. The desecration of well-known places of prayer and devotion in Međugorje prompted widespread condemnation across Bosnia.

The Council of Ministers Chair Borjana Kristo called on the competent institutions to swiftly clarify the case and prosecute those responsible.

The attacks were also condemned by HDZ BiH and SDP BiH, which said that vandalism and the desecration of religious buildings and symbols deserved unequivocal condemnation.

The Interreligious Council of BiH said that the desecration of religious symbols and places of prayer represented an insult to the feelings of Catholic believers, but also an attack on peace, mutual respect and the dignity of all people in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bishop of Mostar-Duvno Petar Palić said that nothing could justify hatred, violence or the desecration of places of prayer, and called on the faithful not to respond to such acts with bitterness, but with prayer and forgiveness.