Religious sister stabbed in Croatia

After an extensive investigation, police suspect that the stab wounds sustained by Sister Marija Tatjana Zrno in Zagreb, Croatia, were self-inflicted and that her report of it being an attack from an unknown assailant was false, according to Croatia Week‘s Dec. 2 report.

When the investigation was ongoing, early reports had indicated the incident might have been religiously or ideologically motivated, according to The Catholic Herald. The outlet reported that the injury reportedly took place Nov. 28 in Zagreb’s residential district of Malešnica. Sister Marija had been struck with a sharp object, wounding her in the abdomen, according to her congregation, the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. She had managed to walk back to her convent before being rushed to the Sisters of Charity University Hospital Centre.

Doctors admitted her around 3 p.m. that day and confirmed the wound was serious but not life-threatening. On Dec. 1, shortly after she was discharged, she filed a criminal complaint claiming an unidentified armed assailant had attacked her, according to Croatia Week.

Local media had reported that the assailant may have shouted religious slogans, possibly including “Allahu akbar,” a phrase invoked in some jihadist attacks. According to the Herald, both the Catholic Information Agency and the Catholic Religious Network say investigators are examining whether the attack contained elements of religious or ideological hostility.

“However, as the investigation progressed, operational findings raised doubts about the truthfulness of her account,” Croatia Week reported. “Police continued with detailed checks and ultimately established that the woman had fabricated the incident.”

The Zagreb Police Department said in a statement that she purchased a knife at a local shop and inflicted the wound on herself and was aware that filing a false report is a criminal offense, according to Croatia Week. Police are consequently filing a regular criminal complaint “on suspicion of falsely reporting a criminal offence,” Croatia Week reported.

Sister Marija is known in Croatia not only as a religious sister but as a religion teacher, youth minister, and soccer enthusiast. Her reflections on faith and the sport attracted international interest during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Her joy, faith, and love of the game resonated widely, and she even joined a nationwide “rosary for the Vatreni” campaign supporting the Croatian national team during the tournament.

In an interview cited by the Herald, she described the spiritual life as a battle requiring the same endurance as professional athletics.

Editor’s note: This article was updated at 5 p.m. ET Dec. 2 to include the police investigation findings.