A religious sister in Zagreb, Croatia, is recovering in hospital after being stabbed several times on Friday, in what early reports suggest may have been a religiously motivated assault. Source: The Catholic Herald.
Croatian Police have opened a criminal investigation and Church officials confirm the Sisters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul sister is stable and expected to recover.
The attack took place on Friday in the residential district of Malešnica.
According to her congregation, the sister was struck in the abdomen with a sharp object and managed to walk back to her convent before being taken for emergency treatment at the Sisters of Charity University Hospital Centre.
Local media has reported that the assailant may have shouted religious slogans, including the Arabic phrase “Allahu akbar”, during the attack, according to unverified eyewitness claims. Authorities have not yet confirmed the motive
Catholic Information Agency and the Catholic Religious Network both reported that investigators are examining whether the attack included “elements of religious or ideological motivation”.
The victim was later identified as Sr Marija Tatjana Zrno, aged 34. Born in Šujica, she is a religion teacher at a Zagreb primary school and known for her pastoral work with young people, and her love of football.
The investigation remains ongoing. Catholic leaders in Croatia have asked the faithful to pray for the sister’s recovery, while authorities work to determine the motive of the attack.
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Croatian religious sister stabbed in attack which may have been religiously motivated (By Tom Colsy, The Catholic Herald)
