A Moroccan national was apprehended this Sunday for setting the Santiago Apóstol Church in El Pozuelo, within the Albuñol municipality (Granada province), ablaze. The 21-year-old allegedly broke into the church by smashing a stained glass window, then wreaked havoc inside with a hammer before igniting the interior. The incident unfolded shortly after 2 p.m., and while there were no injuries, the flames inflicted severe damage on a significant portion of the church's interior. Thanks to the rapid response of the Civil Guard and firefighters, material damage was contained. According to local media, authorities cordoned off the area, barring access to the church to facilitate necessary inspections and damage assessments, setting the stage for a comprehensive investigation. In response, the Union of Islamic Communities of Andalusia (UCIDAN) issued a «strong condemnation» of the attack, emphasizing that it «in no way represents the Andalusian Muslim community». The organization underscored that this criminal act stands «entirely contrary to human and Islamic values, as well as the principles of mutual respect between religions». The Albuñol town hall echoed this «strong condemnation» of the «extremely serious» incident, with Socialist Mayor María José Sánchez (PSOE) urging calm. The local leader denounced any attempts to exploit this «regrettable» event to «foster divisions or confrontations» among residents. «Albuñol is a diverse, supportive, and welcoming municipality, where coexistence and respect are fundamental pillars that must not be compromised. An entire group cannot be criminalized for the actions of a single individual», she asserted. The Archdiocese of Granada also condemned the «serious intentional fire», describing it as a «grave affront to the most sacred aspect of Christian worship and the religious sentiments» of the majority of local residents. The religious institution noted that «several people were slightly injured» while attempting to prevent further damage to the parish. Additionally, it called on the faithful to «give thanks to God for this serious incident and to pray for harmony and peace among all». Furthermore, it urged the competent authorities to «clarify the facts and enforce the law».
