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Religious symbols targeted in series of attacks across Brazil
A series of attacks against religious symbols has sparked a debate regarding religious intolerance in Brazil. In Fortaleza, a Catholic religious goods store was targeted with a Molotov cocktail on September 9, and several other Catholic and Umbanda establishments had their facades set on fire that same night.
Similar incidents have been reported in other regions. In Londrina, Paraná, the head of an image of Our Lady of Aparecida was vandalized. In Salvador, Bahia, an image of Our Lady of Graces was broken, and an image of Saint Dulce of the Poor was destroyed.
In response to these events, Supreme Court Minister Flávio Dino has ordered the Federal Police to investigate a potential wave of attacks on Catholic religious images across the country. Data from Disque 100 indicates that 1,252 reports of religious freedom violations or intolerance were registered in the first half of 2026.
Entities
Federal Police · Flávio Dino · Fortaleza · Salvador · Supreme Federal Court
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] An image of Saint Dulce of the Poor was destroyed in Salvador. maisminas.com.br · portalacontecern.com.br · sidneysilva.com.br
- [● 10 SOURCES] The Civil Police are investigating attacks on religious establishments in Fortaleza. maisminas.com.br · portalacontecern.com.br · sidneysilva.com.br · jornalenoticias.com.br · mauaagora.com.br · +5 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] An image of Our Lady of Graces was broken in Salvador, Bahia. maisminas.com.br · portalacontecern.com.br · sidneysilva.com.br · jornalenoticias.com.br · mauaagora.com.br · +5 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] Supreme Court Minister Flávio Dino ordered the Federal Police to investigate a potential wave of attacks on Catholic religious images across Brazil. maisminas.com.br · portalacontecern.com.br · sidneysilva.com.br · jornalenoticias.com.br · mauaagora.com.br · +5 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] Two other Catholic establishments and one Umbanda establishment in Fortaleza had their facades set on fire on the same night as the Molotov cocktail attack. maisminas.com.br · portalacontecern.com.br · sidneysilva.com.br · jornalenoticias.com.br · mauaagora.com.br · +5 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] A Catholic religious goods store in downtown Fortaleza was targeted with a Molotov cocktail on the morning of September 9. maisminas.com.br · portalacontecern.com.br · sidneysilva.com.br · jornalenoticias.com.br · mauaagora.com.br · +5 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] Between January and June 2026, 1,252 reports related to violations of religious freedom or intolerance were registered via Disque 100. maisminas.com.br · portalacontecern.com.br · sidneysilva.com.br · jornalenoticias.com.br · mauaagora.com.br · +5 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] An image of Our Lady of Aparecida was vandalized in Londrina, Paraná, one day before the attacks in Ceará. maisminas.com.br · portalacontecern.com.br · sidneysilva.com.br · jornalenoticias.com.br · mauaagora.com.br · +5 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] Padre Josileudo Queiroz classified the attacks in Fortaleza and across Brazil as crimes of religious intolerance. jornalenoticias.com.br · maisminas.com.br · mauaagora.com.br · portalacontecern.com.br · portalgilbertosilva.com.br · +4 more