Three dead after knife attack on church in Nice – VG

Three people died after a knife attack on the Notre-Dame church in Nice, southern France, around 9 a.m. on Thursday morning. The antiterrorist prosecutor’s office, which is leading the investigation, has confirmed this to several French media.

Prosecutors and police say an investigation into the attack as a terrorist act is underway.

One of the dead is said to have had his throat slit, Reuters and AFP report. According to Reuters, it is a woman. France Info experiences that of the three dead, two are women and one man. It has not been officially confirmed.

According to the mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, two have died inside the church.

Police sources inform FranceInfo that the third victim took refuge in a bar near the church, where he died from his injuries.

Perpetrator sent to hospital

All the churches in Nice are now guarded or closed, says the mayor.

It also says that the perpetrator shouted “Allahu Akbar” (God is great in Arabic, journ.anm.) Even after he was arrested by the police.

The perpetrator must have been injured and sent to hospital.

The church is located just off the main street of the city. Suspicious luggage has also been found that they are investigating.

French police are reporting on Twitter that the bomb squad is on the scene and asking people to stay away from the city center. They point out that an explosion heard in connection with the attack originated from the police.

– Do not panic, the situation is under control, they write.

Crisis meeting with Macron

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has called an emergency meeting of the Interior Ministry. President Emmanuel Macron, who is now heading to Nice, will attend.

The mayor of the city Christian Estrosi confirms on Twitter that the perpetrator has been arrested. It also confirms that it was an attack with a “blank weapon”, that is, a stabbing or stabbing weapon.

– I confirm that everything points to a terrorist attack, writes Estrosi.

The mayor of Nice calls for strong reactions after the French city was again hit by a possible terrorist attack. In 2016, Nice was the target of a terrorist attack that killed 86 people and injured 458 when an Islamist crashed into a crowd on the city’s waterfront with a truck.

– We can no longer settle for peace laws against Islamist fascism, writes Mayor Christian Estrosi on Twitter:

Estrosi is the mayor of the right-wing Republican Party (Les Républicains).

Norwegian family in Nice: Heard explosions

A Norwegian family living in a hotel next to the church tells what they saw:

– We have seen the police enter and we have heard seven shots inside the church, says the father of the family to VG.

He says they first heard two explosions that he believes may be due to the police blowing up the church door.

French police write on Twitter that “the detonations you hear were carried out by the police, don’t panic, the situation is under control.” French media have reported that suspicious luggage has been found in the area.

– A patient has been rolled onto a stretcher, says the Norwegian who wishes to remain anonymous. The Norwegian family lives in France, but is on an autumn vacation in Nice.

Good Mayor: Everything points to a terrorist attack

– I’m on the scene with the police, who arrested the perpetrator. I confirm that everything indicates that this is a terrorist attack, writes Estrosi Twitter.

Only 13 days ago, the French teacher Samuel Paty (47) was beheaded outside the school where he worked in a suburb of Paris. Paty showed the students cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

The case is being updated.