France: Armed Assailant Shoots Greek Orthodox Priest In Lyon City; 1 Suspect Arrested, Victim In Critical Condition

ABP News Bureau Updated at: 01 Nov 2020 08:25 AM (IST)

This attack comes in at a time when France is trying to recover from the recent acts of violence that have occurred over the Charlie Hebdo cartoons. The motive behind the attack is not yet entirely clear.

Security and emergency personnel are on October 31, 2020 in Lyon at the scene where an attacker armed with a sawn-off shotgun wounded an Orthodox priest in a shooting before fleeing, said a police source. - The priest, who has Greek nationality, was closing his church when the attack happened and is now in a serious condition, said the source, who asked not to be named. The shooting comes three days after three people were killed in a knife rampage inside a church in the southern town of Nice as France was already on edge after the republication in early September of cartoons of the prophet Mohammed by the Charlie Hebdo weekly, and the beheading of a teacheract. (Photo by PHILIPPE DESMAZES / AFP)

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Lyon: An assailant armed with a hunting rifle with a sawed-off barrel seriously injured a Greek Orthodox priest in a shooting outside a church in the Lyon city of France on Saturday. ALSO READ | Noted Author Taslima Nasrin Says Islam Should Be Reformed; Supports French President Macron

The priest is reported to have been shot twice in the chest at point-blank range and according to sources, he is currently in critical condition.

This attack comes in at a time when the country is trying to recover from the recent acts of violence that have occurred over the Charlie Hebdo cartoons. However, the motive behind the new case is not yet entirely clear.

Local media reported that the French police have detained a suspected shooter. He was detained in the third district of Lyon.

Earlier in the day, the Orthodox priest was attacked in the 7th district of Lyon near a Greek church and the attacker managed to flee the area.

The prosecutors revealed that an investigation had been launched in the case and that the national anti-terrorist prosecution is also in touch with the officials over the probe.

WATCH | France: Clergyman shot in Lyon, accused arrested & security beefed up

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