The Zagreb Police reported this Tuesday that the Croatian nun Marija Tajana Zrno, who had reported being attacked with a knife by an unknown person, actually self-harmed and subsequently filed a false report. The authorities communicated the results of a “thorough criminal investigation,” in which they determined that the sister injured herself with a knife that she had previously purchased at a store in the area.
Read also: A Croatian nun is stabbed in Zagreb in an attack that could have religious motivation
The case had generated great concern on November 28, when several Croatian and international media reported that the nun had been stabbed in the abdomen by an alleged attacker who would have shouted phrases with religious content. However, the Croatian police stated that these versions do not correspond to reality.
The facts verified by the authorities
Zrno, 35 years old, a member of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, suffered an injury caused by a sharp object and was treated at a hospital in Zagreb, where doctors diagnosed minor wounds. After being discharged, the nun filed a report claiming to have been attacked by an unknown person.
The authorities then initiated a formal investigation, reviewing cameras, testimonies, and medical material. They finally concluded that there was no aggressor and that the wound was self-inflicted. The police announced that they will file charges against the nun for false reporting, in accordance with Croatian legislation.
Likewise, Zrno was transferred to a specialized health center to receive the necessary medical care. According to a local source cited by The Pillar, the sister would have been admitted to a psychiatric hospital for mental health treatment.
The religious community asks for respect and prayer
The congregation of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, to which the nun belongs, issued a brief statement after the facts became known. In it, they thanked the collaboration of health services and the police, and emphasized “the importance of protecting the dignity and integrity of each person”.
The community expressed its closeness and support to Sister Marija, and invited to maintain an attitude of understanding and to join in prayer for her recovery and for the situation created.