Three killed in a terrorist attack on the French basilica

An attacker killed three people in a church in Nice, French city police said Thursday.

The incident took place at the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Nice on October 29 at around 9:00 local time, according to French media.

Christian Estrosi, mayor of Nice, said the culprit, armed with a knife, was shot and arrested by the municipal police.

He said in a video posted on Twitter that the attacker repeatedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" during and after the attack.

"It seems that for at least one of the victims, inside the church, it was the same method used for the poor professor of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine a few days ago, which is absolute horror," Estrosi said in the video, referring to the beheading. by middle school teacher Samuel Paty in Paris on October 16.

The French newspaper Le Figaro reports that one of the victims, an elderly woman, was found "almost beheaded" inside the church. It is said that a man was also found dead inside the basilica, identified as a sacristan. A third victim, a woman, is said to have taken refuge in a nearby bar, where she died from stab wounds.

Estrosi wrote on Twitter: “I confirm that everything points to a terrorist attack in the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Nice”.

Bishop André Marceau of Nice said all the churches in Nice had been closed and would remain under police protection until further notice.

The Notre-Dame Basilica, completed in 1868, is the largest church in Nice, but it is not the city's cathedral.

Marceau said his emotion was strong after learning of the "heinous terrorist act" in the basilica. He also noted that it happened not long after Paty's beheading.

"My sadness is infinite as a human being in the face of what other beings, called humans, can do," he said in a statement.

“May Christ's spirit of forgiveness prevail in the face of these barbaric acts”.

Cardinal Robert Sarah also responded to the news of the attack on the basilica.

He wrote on Twitter: “Islamism is a monstrous fanaticism that must be fought with strength and determination… Unfortunately, we Africans know all too well. Barbarians are always the enemies of peace. The West, today France, must understand this “.

Mohammed Moussaoui, president of the French Council of the Muslim Faith, condemned the terrorist attack and asked French Muslims to cancel their celebrations for Mawlid, the October 29 celebration of the Prophet Muhammad's birthday, "as a sign of mourning and solidarity with victims and their loved ones. "

Other attacks took place in France on 29 October. In Montfavet, near the city of Avignon in southern France, a man waving a gun threatened and was killed by police two hours after the Nice attack. Radio station Europe 1 said the man was also shouting "Allahu Akbar".

Reuters also reported a knife attack on a French consulate guard in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Archbishop Éric de Moulins-Beaufort, president of the French episcopal conference, wrote on Twitter that he was praying for Nice's Catholics and their bishop.

French President Emmanuel Macron visited Nice after the attack.

He told reporters: “I want to say here first of all the support of the whole nation for Catholics, from France and elsewhere. After the assassination of Fr. Hamel in August 2016, Catholics are once again attacked in our country ”.

He stressed the point on Twitter, writing: “Catholics, you have the support of the whole nation. Our country is our values, which everyone can believe or not believe, that any religion can be practiced. Our determination is absolute. Actions will follow to protect all our citizens “.