The suspect, who has been apprehended following the event, was armed with a machete or a samurai sword when he attacked churchgoers in San Lorenzo parish in Algeciras, according to local media.
A church employee was killed and several people were injured after a guy armed with a razor attacked two churches in southern Spain.
A suspect has been apprehended following the incident in the southern province of Cadiz, according to a statement from the interior ministry.
Authorities are investigating whether the incident in Algeciras, a port city with ties to Morocco, was motivated by terrorism.
The deceased was a sexton, a person responsible for the upkeep of a church or churchyard. According to the Spanish national police, and a priest is in critical condition.
The assailant, reported by local media as holding a machete or samurai sword, allegedly attacked churchgoers in the San Lorenzo parish of the town.
The Algeciras town government recognized the church employee as Diego Valencia and the priest as Antonio Rodrguez. Whose health is stable in the hospital.
The armed attacker entered the San Isidro church and attacked a priest, according to the ministry.
He then walked around 300 meters to the church of Nuestra Senora de La Palma.
Outside the building, he attacked and killed the sexton there.
“The facts are being investigated and analysed. But it is not feasible to ascertain the nature of the attack at this time”. The ministry of the interior said in an early statement.
A representative of the police stated that the event is being investigated.
The publication El Mundo said that four persons were hurt in the attack.
The Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, tweeted his regret over the incident: “I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the family of the sacristan who was killed in the tragic attack in Algeciras.
“I hope for a swift recovery for all who were injured. All of our support for the efforts of the State Security Forces and Corps.”
The secretary general of Spain’s Episcopal Conference, Francisco Garca, tweeted. “I was greatly distressed to learn about the event in Algeciras.
“These are tragic moments of grief; we share the anguish of the victims’ families and the Diocese of Cadiz.”
