Lyon: Orthodox priest seriously injured by gunfire, his attacker on the run

The attack took place in the 7th arrondissement of Lyon.

The 52-year-old priest was taken to hospital in serious condition.

AP Photo / Laurent Cipriani

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

While closing his church, an Orthodox priest of Greek nationality was targeted twice with a sawed-off shotgun this Saturday, October 31 in Lyon. 

Publicity

Read more

The priest was closing his church in the 7th arrondissement of Lyon when a man approached and shot him twice.

According to sources close to the investigation cited by AFP, the cleric was not in uniform and no ceremony was in progress.

The priest, of Greek nationality and aged 52, was hit " 

 ".

He was taken to hospital in serious condition.

His attacker fled.

He is actively sought after.

A security perimeter has been deployed around the church.

The Interior Ministry recommends avoiding the sector and has set up a crisis unit.

Prime Minister Jean Castex, who was this Saturday afternoon in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray where a Catholic priest was assassinated in 2016, is expected on site.

It is impossible for the moment to say whether the attack on Lyon is terrorism or not.

The national anti-terrorism prosecution was not contacted.

These facts come three days after the attack on the Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption basilica in Nice, where three people were killed by an Islamist assailant armed with a knife.

After the Nice attack, President Emmanuel Macron announced the transition from 3,000 to 7,000 soldiers for Operation Sentinel in order to protect places of worship and schools.

To this must be added some 7,000 members of the police, half of them reservist gendarmes, who will be made available to the prefects from Monday to ensure security.

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

• France