A suspect is in custody after an Orthodox priest of Greek origin was shot and seriously injured in Lyon, according to statements from French police authorities. Antoine Callot, another priest of a Greek Orthodox Church, identified the victim as Nikolas Kakavelakis, a father of two, and aged 45.
He was shot two times in the stomach at about 4 pm local time on Saturday, just after service in his local church. He has since been admitted to the hospital and fighting for his life. Local media said the man in custody matched the description of the shooter that the police authorities gave out shortly after the shooting. The suspect was picked after 7 pm in a kebab shop in the city. There is no confirmation yet if he really was the shooter.
The reason behind the shooting is unclear yet. It is coming two days after an Islamic extremist invaded a Catholic church in the city of Nice and stabbed three people. Observers fear the current attack may also be connected to waves of terrorist attacks that have hit France after the French satirical newspaper published caricatures mocking the Prophet Muhammad.
The local prosecutor’s office said investigations have since commenced into the attempted murder. Local prosecutors confirmed that they’re teaming up with the national anti-terrorism unit to determine the true nature of the attack.
“No theory is favored, no theory is ruled out,” Lyon Mayor Gregory Doucet said when he visited the crime scene. “We don’t know at this stage the motive for this attack.”
The authorities have launched a manhunt around the city and beyond. The interior minister activated an emergency team to help local enforcement agents.
Religious leaders condemned the attack and expressed the need for the authorities to beef up security around schools and religious places. In this vein, Prime Minster Jean Castex reiterated the promises of the government to protect the French people and up security at strategic locations all around the country, especially at religious sites and schools. He said the French people could trust their government to protect them at this point and allow them the freedom to practice their religion without fear.
World leaders have been reacting to attacks all over France in the last few days. Western countries condemned the attacks and said it was an intimidation tactic by misguided elements to prohibit free speech. The Greek government was quick to react to Saturday’s shooting. It gave out a statement through the Greek Foreign Ministry.
“We condemn the attack against an Orthodox priest of Greek origin near the Church of the Annunciation in Lyon, France,” the foreign ministry said. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in constant contact with the competent French authorities.”
The French President Emmanuel Macron was on Aljazeera to explain his recent statement following the terror attacks in his country. He said France had no problem with Islam as a religion, and everybody was free to practice whatever faith they belonged to in France.
Source: apnews.com
