A Catholic priest in northern Poland who led a public burning of the Harry Potter books and other items parishioners claimed carried “evil forces” has apologised.

Rev Rafal Jarosiewicz expressed his regret on Facebook and said the burning of objects linked to magic and the occult was “unfortunate”.

Images from the burning ceremony at Gdansk’s Mother of Church parish on Sunday were posted on social media by the evangelical Catholic foundation SMS z Nieba (SMS from Heaven), led by Rev Jarosiewicz.

In the now-deleted pictures, an African wooden mask, figurines of elephants, books on magic and books from the famous series by JK Rowling were seen to have been consumed by the flames.

A priest and altar boys were captured watching the burning of the books and other items, all brought in by parishioners.

Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank Show all 16 1 /16 Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank Oliver Phelps and James Phelps in the Lestrange Vault PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank The bank also features goblin tellers' desks PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank Warwick Davis, the actor who played Griphook, at the opening of the new Gringotts Wizarding Bank PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank Oliver Phelps and James Phelps, the actors who played the Weasley twins, in the great banking hall PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank Warwick Davis in the Lestrange Vault PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank Warwick Davis poses with gold galleons PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank Warwick Davis poses with gold galleons inside Gringotts PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank The newest attraction will open 6 April PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank The attraction is 16,500sqft PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank The main banking hall features three crystal chandeliers PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank The prosthetics used for the goblins will be on display in the new attraction PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank Warwick Davis at the opening of the new Gringotts Wizarding Bank PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank Visitors will be able to peer inside the Lestrange Vault PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank The main banking hall is finished with real brass leaf PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank The Lestrange Vault houses the Sword of Gryffindor PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank The Weasley twins celebrate the opening of the new Gringotts Wizarding Bank PA

The foundation said the burning was intended to alert parishioners to the bad influence emanating from magic and the occult. In his apology, Rev Jarosiewicz claimed the gesture had not been aimed at books “as such”.

Comments under the original post condemned the act, recalling book-burning during Nazi rule in Germany before the Second World War.

One said: “I have not met anyone yet who would rape, murder and steal in the name of Harry Potter. In the name of the Bible, yes. Bad news, gentlemen!”

“Can’t you see how sick this is? What are your plans next, burning witches?” another critic wrote. “As a Catholic, I don’t agree with you, burning books is stupid,” another added.

The incident was condemned by the Rev Wojciech Parafianowicz, spokesman for the diocese of Koszalin, where the evangelical foundation is based. He said he “did not like this form of priestly activity, which is wrong”.

Rev Jarosiewicz was fined following the incident and an anti-smog group has contacted prosecutors about the open fire, according to the Associated Press.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

The book-burning comes as Poland’s influential Catholic Church is grappling with revelations about the scale of child abuse among its priests.