Hertfordshire Police arrested a man after three incidents of criminal damage caused at churches in Hitchin and Letchworth on August 25.

A 38-year-old man from Letchworth was also arrested in connection with further incidents of criminal damage on August 26.

The vandalism saw a stained glass memorial to World War I personnel smashed at St Mary’s Church, in Hitchin, alongside a depiction of Jesus Christ.

Vandals attack St Mary’s Church #Hitchin in an apparent religously aggravated crime any info call @HertsPolice on 101 pic.twitter.com/ha5QTdgWVP

— HE Heritage Crime (@HEHeritageCrime) August 27, 2015

At St Paul’s Church, in Letchworth, the vandal threw more than 50 pieces of flint and brick through its windows. The attacks soon switched to St Mary’s, with the first incident at 2.10pm then 9pm.

In total, damages total above £10,000.

Before the arrest, Sergeant Stephen Oliphant told local press:”We are currently following a line of enquiry that they are religiously aggravated and, due to the damage caused to these historical buildings, the incidents are also being treated as a heritage crime”.

In spite of the distress, Simon Moore, vicar of the Letchworth church, stressed forgiveness for the accused. Congregants banded together to sweep away broken glass.

On August 27, St Paul’s Church captioned a part of the vandalism that bore a cross. It read: “From the damage of Tuesday, something glorious was instantly created from the broken lead window tracing”. It resumed its regular Sunday service and thanked individuals for their support and prayers.

Nor did St Paul’s Church have a history of vandalism; the last incident took place more than a decade ago.

The man has been bailed till late September.

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A Canadian mosque raised thousands of dollars to support a nearby Catholic church after a spate of vandalism.

News of the vandalism soon spread. Hamid Slimi, imam of the Sayeda Khadija Centre in Mississauga visited the St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church to make sense of the crime.

Father Camillo Lando showed Slimi footage of the vandal’s behaviour. According to the Toronto Star, “The guy who did it ripped pages out of the Bible. He broke the altar. He threw the cross,” said Slimi. “When I saw this, I thought it was pure injustice. It was just wrong”.

After recalling the incident at a Friday sermon, Slimi urged others to donate. Within a day, the congregation raised almost $5,000.

CCTV of the first incident captured a man tearing pages from bibles, throwing holy books, and laying a cross upon the floor. Upon leaving, footage captured him taking items.

Days later, a vandal left a statue of Jesus desecrated; the adjoining school spray painted.

Local police soon arrested Iqbal Hessan, 22, and charged him. At a bail hearing, Hessan stated he was ‘upset’ with Christianity.

During the ongoing trial, prosecution told the court that Hessan confessed a desire to ‘hurt’ a priest. Hessan’s father told the court that his son is a diagnosed schizophrenic. That he argued, was the reason for his anger.

Police did not seek a hate crime prosecution due to a lack of ‘evidence’. Yet, many Christians in Lando’s congregation expressed upset; but Lando preached forgiveness.

Other Muslims took the time to call Father Lando and express support.

Hessan’s trial continues.

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