Polish Vandal Bartłomiej Krakowiak Detained for One Month in Bosnia

A court in Bosnia and Herzegovina sentenced 31‑year‑old Polish citizen Bartłomiej Włodzimierz Krakowiak to a one‑month pre‑trial detention for vandalising religious sites in Medjugorje. He is accused of damaging statues of the Virgin Mary and setting fire to the external altar of the Church of St. James, as well as of inciting national, racial and religious hatred and creating a public danger. Krakowiak told investigators he acted to expose what he believes are fraudulent claims of Marian apparitions in Medjugorje and said he would repeat the act. He initially refused legal representation; his defence lawyer Denisa Gačanin argued his motive was not hatred. The detention may be extended until 28 August 2026 or until a further court decision.