A Moroccan immigrant causes damage and sets fire to a church in Granada

The Granada hamlet of El Pozuelo experienced a very serious incident this Sunday that disrupted the usual tranquility of summer. The church of Santiago Apóstol, built in 1993–1994 and the center of local religious life, was the target of an attack that resulted in an intentional fire.

According to official sources, at around 2:00 p.m. a 21-year-old man of Moroccan origin forced entry into the church after breaking a stained glass window with a hammer. Once inside, he caused damage to the interior and subsequently started a fire with a lighter. The act prompted the immediate intervention of emergency services, including Motril Firefighters, the Civil Guard, and the Local Police.

Residents, some of them with hoses in hand, tried to contain the flames and assist the security forces. The rapid deployment made it possible to control the fire, although the material damage to the church was significant.

The Archdiocese of Granada issued a statement in which it condemned the incident, describing it as  "intentional" and denouncing a "attack on the most sacred aspects of Christian worship and the religious sentiments of the majority of its inhabitants". It also expressed its gratitude to firefighters, the Civil Guard, and parishes, and called on the faithful to "make amends to God" in response to what happened.

The Civil Guard cordoned off the area and the Judicial Police are keeping the investigation open. The incident, beyond its material consequences, represents a blow to coexistence and reignites the debate about the security of places of worship in a context of growing social tension, cultural challenges, and high levels of illegal migration in Spain.