Bosnia questions Pole over vandalism at Medjugorje shrine

The man, who was born in Warsaw, is suspected of earlier this week defacing the main statue of the Virgin Mary on Apparition Hill and another smaller statue with black paint, setting fire to the outdoor altar of St. James Church, and writing insulting messages in Polish and English targeting Međugorje, the Virgin Mary and the visionaries.

The Prosecutor's Office has charged him with damaging or destroying religious sites, an offence punishable by between three months and five years in prison.

According to a source at the office, the Polish national was expected to be brought before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina later today, which will decide on the request for his detention.

Numerous media outlets in Poland, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have published the man's identity, saying he was previously known to the public because his life story was featured in Powołany 2, a docudrama by Polish director Jan Sobierajski. In the film, he spoke about a difficult childhood, violence, addiction and a personal crisis, describing a pilgrimage to Međugorje as a turning point and the beginning of his religious conversion.

According to Polish Catholic portal Stacja7.pl, the director commented on the case on social media. He said he had met the 31-year-old, whose identity has not yet been officially disclosed by the Bosnian authorities, while making the film, and that the man had later struggled with serious mental health problems and new personal crises. Sobierajski also said he had spoken to him several times by phone recently, but that he had refused help.