Greek Orthodox Priest Shot in France after Islamist Attack in Cathedral
By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) – A Greek Orthodox priest was shot and badly wounded in the French city of Lyon, two days after an Islamist killed three people in a cathedral in Nice, police said.
The priest, identified as Nikolaos Kakavelakis, was fired on twice while closing his church located in the center of the city, according to police investigators.
He was reportedly being treated for life-threatening injuries.
Authorities were reluctant to call Saturday’s shooting an act of terrorism. French police and judicial officials told media that anti-terrorism prosecutors had not been brought in.
A suspect was reportedly detained several hours later at a kebab shop in Lyon and placed in police custody. No more details were immediately available.
MORE VIOLENCE
The latest attack came after a man shouting “Allahu Akbar!” (Allah is Greatest) beheaded a woman and killed two other people in a church in Nice.
Thursday’s killings came two weeks after an 18-year-old attacker beheaded a schoolteacher in a Paris suburb. The suspect was furious that the teacher showed a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammad to students, authorities said.
The French government has warned of more Islamist militant attacks following the recent publication of Mohammad cartoons by French satire newspaper Charlie Hebdo.
French President Emmanuel Macron has defended the right of free speech and said his nation would “not give in.”
He has deployed thousands of soldiers to protect sites such as churches and schools, but Saturday’s attack underscored concerns that it may be challenging to prevent more terrorism.
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