MADRID—Spanish authorities are investigating a possible ‘terrorist’ incident after a man with a machete attacked several people in two churches in the southern port city of Algeciras, killing at least one. said that
A city spokesman said a priest was attacked at two different churches, San Isidro and Nuestra Senora de la Palma, about 300 meters (1,000 feet) apart, shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday in downtown Algeciras. .
Police said the attacker had been arrested, and a police source shared footage of two officers escorting a handcuffed man in a hooded sports top to a police station. has not disclosed their name or nationality details.
A spokesman for the city of Algeciras said that the dead were Diego Valencia, a priest of the Church of Nuestra Senora de la Palma, while Antonio Rodriguez, an honorary priest of the San Isidro parish, was among the injured and was in a serious condition. … apparently … .
An unknown number of others were also injured.
Police said the suspect first entered the San Isidro church and attacked Rodriguez. According to a statement from the Algeciras Salesians, 74-year-old Rodriguez was celebrating Eucharist when he was attacked.
The perpetrators then broke into the church of Nuestra Senora de la Palma and damaged property before attacking Valencia.
Juan José Marina, the parish priest of Nuestra Senora de la Palma, told broadcaster SER that the suspect went straight to Valencia after Mass, and may have believed Valencia to be the priest. suggested.
“Perhaps this death was meant for me and I found him instead,” Marina said through tears.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez took to Twitter to express his condolences to the victims of the “terrible attack”, while Francisco Garcia, secretary general of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, spoke of “great pain” upon hearing the news.
“This is a time of sad suffering. We are united for the pain of the families of the victims and for the Diocese of Cadiz,” he said on Twitter.
Algeciras mayor José Ignacio Landalce declared mourning in the city on Thursday and a rally outside the Nuestra Senora de la Palma church at noon.
Two people were killed and several others injured when a 33-year-old Palestinian man attacked them with a knife on a regional train traveling between Kiel and Hamburg in northern Germany early Wednesday. .