Seven churches in New Zealand were targeted in a suspected arson attack overnight, with four sustaining significant damage. The incidents occurred in the town of Masterton, located north of the capital, Wellington.

Emergency crews from across the Wairarapa region responded to the fires at approximately 4:30 a.m. local time on Saturday (3:30 p.m. GMT Friday). Fire and Emergency New Zealand confirmed that the fires are being treated as suspicious and have been referred to the police. No arrests have been made as of yet.

Authorities identified the affected churches as the Anglican Church of the Epiphany, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Masterton, Masterton Baptist Church, and Equippers Church Masterton. Local media reported broken windows, burnt chairs, and scorched upholstery. Three additional churches were targeted but did not catch fire. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported, and all fires have been extinguished.

Masterton Mayor Gary Caffell expressed shock at the attacks, stating, “You just don’t expect this sort of thing to happen, especially in a place like Masterton.” Local Member of Parliament Mike Butterick also shared his sorrow and praised first responders as “heroes” for their swift actions.

Additionally, a funeral home with a chapel in the same area was set on fire around 10:00 a.m. No one was inside the building at the time.

Law enforcement officers remain on the scene and are urging any witnesses to come forward. Police will also increase patrols in Masterton and nearby towns Featherston and Carterton to reassure residents.

A video circulating on social media shows a man claiming responsibility for the attacks, citing anti-religious and anti-monarchist beliefs. Police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand have yet to provide further comments.

This incident adds to a series of arson attacks on religious buildings in recent years. Last year, a church property in Auckland was targeted twice in one night, and a mosque in the same area was set on fire in November. In 2019, Christchurch witnessed a tragic attack where 51 people were killed in mass shootings at two mosques. The perpetrator, Brenton Tarrant, later revealed plans to burn down the mosques to maximize casualties.

Germany’s political leaders are making a final push to sway voters as Sunday’s election approaches, with the outcome poised to impact not only the nation but Europe as a whole.

Conservative frontrunner Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), told supporters that his leadership would restore Germany’s influence in Europe and marginalize the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Merz will close his campaign with a rally in Munich, while his rivals are set to make their final pitches during a televised voter Q&A session.

This election follows months of political deadlock after the collapse of the previous government. Across Europe, hopes are high that the vote will bring stability to the EU’s largest democracy and economy, which continues to grapple with recession. However, forming a governing coalition is expected to take weeks.

Key campaign issues have centered on economic recovery and migration, with the latter dominating headlines after a series of deadly attacks since May 2024 in cities like Mannheim, Solingen, Magdeburg, Aschaffenburg, and Munich. On Friday night, a Spanish tourist was stabbed near Berlin’s Holocaust memorial, though his injuries are not life-threatening.

The attackers in these incidents were reportedly immigrants, fueling support for the AfD, which polls at around 20% with its nationalist, anti-immigration platform. Party leader Alice Weidel has attracted younger voters via social media, boasting 870,000 followers on TikTok. Her campaign, backed by figures like billionaire Elon Musk and U.S. Vice President JD Vance, advocates for securing Germany’s borders and deporting illegal migrants involved in crime—a policy critics link to mass deportations.

Public opposition to the far-right has also been visible. On Friday, hundreds gathered in Solingen, where a Syrian man was accused of fatally stabbing three people last August. “We have friends whose parents didn’t grow up here. We don’t want anyone kicked out,” said Natalie, 35, while another protester, Jochen, held a sign reading, “Never Again is Now!”

A strong police presence monitored the protest amid rising security concerns. A police union spokesperson warned of potential attacks aimed at destabilizing democracy.

Mainstream parties, including the CDU, have ruled out forming a coalition with the AfD. However, if the AfD surpasses 20%, it could double its seats in Germany’s 630-seat parliament. Merz’s most likely coalition partner is the Social Democratic Party (SPD), though current Chancellor Olaf Scholz may not retain his role. As the SPD lags in third place, Scholz hopes undecided voters—estimated at one in five—could still swing the election.

Merz, addressing 1,200 supporters in Darmstadt, described a shifting global landscape, expressing doubt that the U.S. would celebrate NATO’s 70th anniversary with Germany. Criticizing the outgoing government’s lack of international leadership, he pledged, “If elected, I will dedicate significant time to keeping the European Union united.”

With the final votes approaching, Germany stands at a crossroads, and the election’s outcome will shape both national and European politics in the years ahead.

Swedish authorities are investigating potential sabotage after damage was discovered on an undersea telecoms cable in the Baltic Sea, connecting Germany and Finland. The Swedish coastguard dispatched a research vessel east of Gotland, Sweden’s largest island, where the damage was reported.

Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson acknowledged the cable break, stating it must be viewed within the context of the current security climate. The cable’s owner, Finnish telecom company Cinia, confirmed the fibre-optic cable sustained minor damage but continues to function normally. This marks the third incident involving the cable in recent months, with a previous severing reported in November 2023.

Swedish police announced that the preliminary investigation involves suspected sabotage. However, the coastguard stated that the exact timing of the damage remains unclear. A coastguard vessel, KBV 003, is currently assisting with the crime scene investigation within Sweden’s economic zone.

The incident comes amid growing concerns over damage to undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, particularly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. NATO launched a monitoring mission in the region last month in response to a series of suspected attacks on undersea cables and gas pipelines.

While European leaders have raised suspicions of Russian involvement in previous breaches, some incidents have been attributed to civilian ships accidentally dragging anchors across cables. Earlier this month, Swedish authorities cleared the Bulgarian vessel Vezhen of any wrongdoing in a separate incident involving cable damage.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek to determine the cause of the latest damage and assess potential security implications for the region.