A machete-wielding man killed a sexton and injured a priest at two Catholic church buildings within the metropolis of Algeciras earlier than being arrested, Spain’s inside ministry mentioned.
uthorities are investigating the assaults as a doable act of terrorism.
The suspect is within the custody of Spain’s Nationwide Police. The ministry didn’t determine him.
Algeciras is close to the southern tip of Spain, resting throughout from a bay from Gibraltar. It’s residence to an necessary port with ferry connections to northern Africa.
The assault began round 7 pm, when an armed man went into the church of Maria Auxiliadora y San Isidro and assaulted a priest, who was critically injured, the ministry mentioned.
The assailant then went to a second church, Nuestra Señora de La Palma, a five-minute stroll away, the place he attacked the sexton.
The sexton, whose job it’s to deal with the church, fled outdoors to a public sq., the place the attacker inflicted mortal wounds, the ministry mentioned.
The Algeciras city corridor mentioned the sexton was named Diego Valencia and recognized the wounded priest as Antonio Rodríguez.
The city corridor mentioned he was hospitalized and in secure situation.
Native media reported that not less than three different individuals have been injured.
Spain’s Nationwide Courtroom mentioned a decide has opened an investigation right into a doable act of terrorism.
Police are investigating the incident, the inside ministry mentioned, to find out the “nature of the assault.” It provided no element on the attacker’s motive.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez joined the outpouring of assist.
“I need to specific my sincerest condolences for the households of the sexton slain within the horrible assault in Algeciras,” Sánchez wrote on Twitter. “I want the injured a swift restoration.”
The secretary normal of Spain’s Episcopal Convention, Francisco García, wrote on Twitter that “I’ve acquired the information of the incident in Algeciras with nice ache.” The convention is a corporation of Spain’s Catholic bishops, based mostly in Rome.
“These are unhappy moments of struggling, we’re united by the ache of households of the victims and for the Diocese of Cádiz,” García added.
The city corridor declared a day of mourning when flags will fly at half-staff.
“We’re all shocked by these acts, which have crammed us with ache,” Mayor José Landaluce mentioned. “Algeciras has at all times been a metropolis the place harmony and tolerance reign, regardless of incidents like this that create a picture that doesn’t correspond to actuality.”
