Machete Attack In Spain: Man Kills Church Caretaker, Injures Priest. Probe On For 'Act Of Terrorism'

Spain’s National Court said a judge has opened an investigation into a possible act of terrorism.

A man killed a sexton and injured a priest with a machete in two churches in the city of Spain's Algeciras on Wednesday before he was arrested, the police are investigating the incident as possibly an act of terrorism, according to AP. The suspect was arrested in the southern city and is in the custody of the National Police, Spain's interior ministry informed. 

According to the new agency, the attack started around 7 pm when the machete-wielding man went into the San Isidro church and assaulted a priest, who was seriously injured. The assailant then went to a second church, the Nuestra Señora de La Palma which is a five-minute walk away and attacked the sexton. 

The sexton, whose job it is to take care of the church and its maintenance. He fled outside but the attacker followed and struck the mortal wounds in a public square, according to AP, said the interior ministry.

The Algeciras town hall said the sexton was named Diego Valencia and identified the wounded priest as Antonio Rodriguez, who was hospitalised and is stable.

According to AP, local media reported that the attacker, in his rampage injured three other people. 

Spain’s National Court said a judge has opened an investigation into a possible act of terrorism.

According to the interior ministry, the police are investigating to determine the "nature of the attack" and offered no additional details on the motive of the attacker. 

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez offered his condolences.

“I want to express my sincerest condolences for the families of the sexton slain in the terrible attack in Algeciras,” Sánchez wrote on Twitter. “I desire the injured a swift recovery.”

The secretary general of Spain’s Episcopal Conference, Francisco García, wrote on Twitter: “I have received the news of the incident in Algeciras with great pain.”

“These are sad moments of suffering, we are united by the pain of families of the victims and for the diocese of Cadiz,” he added.