MADRID, Jan 25 (Reuters) – Spanish government mentioned they have been investigating what they known as a imaginable “terrorist” incident after a machete-wielding guy attacked a number of other folks at two church buildings within the southern port town of Algeciras, killing no less than one individual.
The person attacked priests at two other church buildings – San Isidro and Nuestra Senora de L. a. Palma, round 300 metres (1,000 ft) aside – simply after 8pm on Wednesday night in downtown Algeciras, a spokesperson for town mentioned. A supply at Madrid’s Top Courtroom mentioned the incident used to be being investigated as terrorism.
Police mentioned the attacker have been arrested, and a police supply shared photos appearing two officials escorting a person in a hooded sports activities most sensible in handcuffs via a police station. Police have now not launched main points of his identify or nationality. Native media, together with El Pais newspaper, mentioned he used to be a 25-year-old Moroccan.
The person who used to be killed used to be Diego Valencia, a sacristan on the Nuestra Senora de L. a. Palma church, whilst the titular priest of the parish church of San Isidro, Antonio Rodriguez, used to be a few of the injured and is in severe situation, the Algeciras town spokesperson mentioned.
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An unknown collection of others have been additionally injured. El Mundo newspaper reported that 4 other folks have been harm within the assault.
Police mentioned the suspect first entered the San Isidro church and attacked Rodriguez. A commentary by means of the Algeciras Salesians mentioned Rodriguez, 74, have been celebrating Eucharist when he used to be attacked.
[1/3] Other people acquire subsequent to a funeral automobile on the scene of a stabbing incident at a church in Algeciras, Spain January 25, 2023 on this display seize from a video. FORTA/by the use of REUTERS/Handout by the use of REUTERS
The assailant then went into the Nuestra Senora de L. a. Palma church the place he broken assets earlier than attacking Valencia, who fled the church however used to be chased by means of the suspect, who inflicted additional, deadly accidents on him out of doors, police mentioned in a commentary.
The parish priest at Nuestra Senora de L. a. Palma, Juan Jose Marina, informed broadcaster SER the suspect went directly for Valencia after the mass had completed, suggesting he may have believed Valencia used to be the priest.
“Most likely, this dying used to be supposed for me and it discovered him as an alternative,” mentioned a tearful Marina.
Spanish High Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his condolences to the sufferers of the “horrible assault” on his Twitter account, whilst the secretary normal of Spain’s Episcopal Convention, Francisco Garcia, spoke of his “nice ache” on listening to the scoop.
“Those are unhappy occasions of struggling, we’re united by means of the ache of the sufferers’ households and for the Cadiz Diocese,” he mentioned on Twitter.
Jose Ignacio Landaluce, the mayor of Algeciras, has declared an afternoon of mourning within the town for Thursday and a rally out of doors Nuestra Senora de L. a. Palma church at noon.
Previous on Wednesday, two other folks have been killed and a number of other others injured when a 33-year-old stateless Palestinian guy attacked them with a knife on a regional teach travelling between Kiel and Hamburg in northern Germany, government mentioned.
Reporting by means of David Latona, Belén Carreño and Aislinn Laing; Modifying by means of Rosalba O’Brien
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Supply By means of https://www.reuters.com/article/spain-crime/at-least-one-dead-several-injured-in-machete-attack-at-southern-spain-churches-idUSKBN2U41LP
