Police arrest serial attacker of church buildings

A man who targeted four Catholic Church buildings in central Rome over the last 24 hours has been apprehended, Italian police said on Saturday.

The suspect was described as a 39-year-old legal resident from Ghana with several previous run-ins with the law.

“Authorities are evaluating what charges to press,’’ police said.

Police said he broke into four churches in central Rome – twice on Friday and twice on Saturday and damaged no less than five religious statues.

A parish priest who witnessed one of the attacks, Father Pedro Savelli of Santa Prassede church, told newsmen that the culprit was out of his mind, but luckily they made him run away before he could destroy the cross.

“It was all over in a few seconds, and luckily not many people were in the church, no more than 15, but they were all terrified.

“That man was out of control, he said we were using sacred images in the wrong way and then hurled himself at the statues,’’ Savelli added.