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Date Published: 26/01/2023

ARCHIVED - One dead and several injured in Cadiz church terror attack

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The Moroccan assailant attacked parishioners of four churches in Algeciras with a machete

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - One dead and several injured in Cadiz church terror attack

The Cádiz town of Algeciras became the unlikely scene of a prolonged attack of terror on Wednesday January 25 as a lone Moroccan man targeted several churches. Armed with a machete, the assailant killed the sacristan of Nuestra Señora de La Palma parish church and injured at least four other church-goers, one of whom is in a stable but serious condition.

The National Court is treating the attacks as an act of terrorism.

The onslaught began yesterday afternoon at the Santa María Auxiliadora church, when the man burst through the doors shouting “Allah” and stabbed the 74-year-old Salesian vicar Antonio Rodríguez, who was celebrating the 7pm Eucharist. The victim was transferred to Punta de Europa hospital in Algeciras, where he is still being treated for his serious injuries.

After this first terror attack, the Moroccan man made his way to the Church of Our Lady of La Palma in central Plaza Alta. He ransacked the church before turning his machete on sacristan Diego Valencia, who managed to flee outside. However, his assailant followed and murdered the church official, injuring at least three other people in the process.

Their condition is currently unknown.

From here the alleged terrorist reportedly turned his attention to the Chapel of Europe, a church right across the street. He was seen pounding on the door but left when the building appeared empty.

Police officers eventually arrested the suspect near Laza Alta and he was transferred to the Algeciras station.

The assailant has been named as Yasin Kanza, a Moroccan man in his 20s. While officials have not ruled out a jihadist motive for the attacks, they are currently working on the assumption that he was operating as a lone wolf.

Asesinan al sacristán de La Palma y hieren a otras cuantro personas en un ataque investigado como terrorismo yihadista contra dos iglesias de Algeciras.

El supuesto autor (Yassin K.) de origen magrebí, fue detenido por la policía local con un machete. pic.twitter.com/onacj9i0t1
— Jucil Nacional (@jucilnacional) January 26, 2023

According to police sources, the suspect was wearing a black djellaba (a long, loose fitting robe) at the time of the attacks, which leads them to believe that this was not a suicide mission.

The town of Algeciras is shocked and saddened by the vicious attacks, and Spanish President Pedro Sánchez has also extended his condolences to the people of Cádiz: “I want to convey my most sincere condolences to the relatives of the sacristan who died in the terrible attack in Algeciras. I wish a speedy recovery to the wounded,” he wrote on Twitter.

“All our support for the work being carried out by the State Security Forces and Bodies,” he added.

Regional president Juanma Moreno condemned the attacks as “terrible and heartbreaking”, adding that “intolerance will never have a place in our society”.

The National Court has opened an investigation for an alleged terrorist attack.

Images: Jucil Nacional

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