Madman stabs priest in deadly machete rampage at Spanish churches
An attacker wielding a machete fatally stabbed one person and wounded at least four others — including a priest — at two Spanish churches on Wednesday, local police said.
The suspect was arrested shortly after the mayhem in the southeastern city of Algeciras. Authorities did not identify him.
The madman first entered the Church of San Isidro and stabbed the priest, according to officials. He then walked five minutes to the Nuestra Señora de La Palma Church and attacked a sexton, cops said.
The sexton attempted to flee outside the church, but the attacker caught up and stabbed him to death, they said.
Algeciras city leaders identified the priest as Antonio Rodriguez and the sexton as Diego Valencia. Rodriguez was hospitalized in stable condition, officials said. The other three victims were not identified, and police did not say exactly when and where they were attacked.
“I want to express my sincerest condolences for the family members of the sexton slain in the terrible attack in Algeciras,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote in Spanish on Twitter. “I hope for a swift recovery for those injured.”
Spanish police are investigating the attack as a possible act of terrorism.
With News Wire Services
