At least three people are dead after knife attack near church in Nice, France
Posted October 29, 2020 5:34 am.
Last Updated October 29, 2020 10:59 am.
PARIS — French anti-terrorism prosecutors are investigating a knife attack at a church in the Mediterranean city of Nice that killed at least three people and wounded several others at a time when French authorities are on high alert for extremist violence.
The assailant was arrested after the Thursday morning attack at the Notre Dame Church and taken to a nearby hospital after being injured during his arrest, a police official said.
He was believed to be acting alone and police are not searching for other assailants, the official said. She was not authorized to be publicly named.
The anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office said an investigation was opened into an attack with a terrorist connection.
Images on French media showed the neighbourhood locked down and surrounded by police and emergency vehicles. Sounds of explosions could be heard as sappers exploded suspicious objects.
WATCH: FRANCE: SCENE OF KNIFE ATTACK CORDONED OFF
The exact motive of the attack was unclear but comes as France is under alert for Islamic extremist acts amid tensions over caricatures of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad published by satirical French weekly Charlie Hebdo, and after two other recent attacks in France with links to the cartoons.
The lower house of parliament suspended a debate on new virus restrictions and held a moment of silence Thursday for the victims.
The prime minister rushed from the hall to head to a crisis centre overseeing the aftermath of the attack.
WATCH: FRANCE: ARMED OFFICIALS RESPOND TO KNIFE ATTACK IN NICE
Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi said the attacker shouted “Allahu akbar!” repeatedly as police apprehended him and that “the meaning of his gesture left no doubt.”
French policemen and firemen stand next to Notre Dame church after a knife attack, in Nice, France, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020. French anti-terrorism prosecutors are investigating a knife attack at a church in the Mediterranean city of Nice that killed two people and injured several others. (AP Photo/Alexis Gilli)
French policemen and firemen stand next to Notre Dame church after a knife attack, in Nice, France, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020. French anti-terrorism prosecutors are investigating a knife attack at a church in the Mediterranean city of Nice that killed two people and injured several others. (AP Photo/Alexis Gilli)
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that he will more than double number of soldiers deployed to protect against attacks to 7,000 after three people were killed at a church Thursday.
Macron’s announcement to increase deployments from around 3,000 currently to 7,000 came hours after the attack in the Mediterranean city.
Déclaration après l’attaque terroriste de Nice. https://t.co/9UmVPYLDf7
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) October 29, 2020
