Greek Pastor In French Church Shot By Unknown Man

Church illustration in France - Guests attending the final ministry of former French president Jacques Chirac at the Saint-Sulpice church in Paris, France (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Greek Orthodox priest, Saturday, October 31 local time, was shot and seriously injured in a church in the city of Lyon, France. The perpetrator fled after carrying out the attack, according to police sources and eye witnesses.

Within hours of the incident, there was no clear indication of the motive for the attack.

The officer also did not mention that the attack was linked to terrorism.

Sources in the police and judiciary said that the anti-terrorism prosecutor has not been brought in.

The pastor was shot twice around 4pm local time while closing the church and is currently being treated for his serious injuries, police sources said.

Witnesses said the church, which is in the center of Lyon, is Greek Orthodox.

Another source in the police said the priest was Greek and notified emergency services when they arrived that he did not recognize the attacker.

Greek government officials identified the priest as Nikolaos Kakavelakis.

One suspect was later arrested hours later at a kebab stall in the city of Lyon and detained at a police station, according to a police first source.

However, there was no confirmation whether this person was a suspect in the assault, or any indication that the police were still pursuing other suspects.

A source at the Lyon prosecutor's office said an investigation into the assassination attempt was underway.

The attack came two days after someone chanting "Allahu Akbar" beheaded a woman and killed two others at a Nice City church.