Woman Beheaded, 2 others Killed In Knife Attack At A Church In France

Mumbai: A knife-wielding assailant killed a woman and killed two others in a suspected terrorist attack at a church in the French city of Nice on Thursday, police told Reuters.

There was a fierce upheaval inside the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Nice.

The Mayor of Nice, Cristian Estrosi, who described the attack as terrorism, said on Twitter that it took place in the area or near or around the Dame Church and police detained the attacker. Estrosi stated that the attacker shouted the phrase “Allahu Akbar”, or God is the greatest. One of those killed inside the church was believed to be a churchwarden.

Estrosi said that even after the attacker was detained, “Allahu Akbar” shouted. “The suspected knife attacker was shot by police while in custody. He is on his way to the hospital, he is alive.”

“Enough is enough,” Estrosi said. “Now is the time for France to extricate itself from the laws of peace so that Islamic-fascism can be eliminated from our region.”

A man entered the Roman Catholic Church, the largest in Nice when the mass was to begin at 9 am. He attacked and toppled at least one woman and then attacked the churchwarden who ran to stop him.

The police were also quick to reach the spot. The attacker was caught and taken to the hospital. The mayor of Nees said that the man shouted Allahu Akbar, even after a brief struggle he was arrested. It is being said that he was injured.

There was no word on the identity of the attacker but he is said to be of South Asian or Arab origin.

Police said three people were confirmed to have died in the attack and several were injured.

The French anti-terrorism prosecutor’s department said it had been asked to investigate the attack.

(With Reuters Inputs)

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