Moroccan Man Arrested in Spain for Fatal Church Attack, Terrorism Suspected

The Moroccan, armed with a katana, broke into several churches in the city to commit these crimes, according to sources close to the investigation who do not rule out the terrorist trail, the suspect having acted alone. He went to the parish of Santa María Auxiliadora where he stabbed the Salesian vicar Antonio Rodríguez, 74 years old, who was celebrating the 7 p.m. mass in the chapel of San Isidro. Seriously injured, the latter was admitted to the Punta de Europa hospital. His vital prognosis is not engaged, reports Malaga Hoy.

He then went to the Nuestra Señora de La Palma church on the central Alta de Algeciras square where he violently assaulted the sacristan Diego Valencia. The victim managed to leave the parish, but eventually succumbed to his injuries. Three other people were injured by the Moroccan who then went to the Chapel of Europe, located opposite the Nuestra Señora de La Palma church, to commit other crimes. But fortunately, the doors of the church were closed.

The accused was finally arrested by the local police and placed in custody at the Algeciras police station. The Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE) firmly condemned this form of violence "unacceptable in our society". "As believers, we ask the God of mercy and peace to fill the hearts of the victims with hope and to heal the wounded, to accompany the Church and society in the search for peace and to convert the hearts of violent persons," the bishops said in a statement.