France ‘terror’ attack – ‘Woman and man beheaded’ in mass stabbing inside church in Nice, French media reports
A WOMAN and a man have reportedly been beheaded in a suspected terror attack inside a church in France, according to media reports.
Three people were killed in the bloody rampage which saw the knifeman storm the Basilica of Notre-Dame in Nice, south of France.
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Two victims – a man and a woman – were reportedly killed and butchered inside the church, including the basilica’s caretaker.
Actu17 cites unnamed sources that two of the victims were beheaded the attack.
The third victim – a woman – reportedly managed to escape and took refuge in a nearby bar where she succumbed to her injuries, reports BFMTV.
Armed cops then stormed Notre-Dame – the largest Roman Catholic church in Nice – and shot the suspected terrorist, wounding him.
Nice mayor Christian Estrosi told reporters that the knifeman “kept shouting Allahu Akbar even after being medicated” and added “the meaning of his gesture is not in doubt”.
It comes amid heightened security fears in France amid the ongoing row over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed published by Charlie Hebdo.
Samuel Paty, 47, was beheaded by 18-year-old Abdullah Anzorov on October 17 after using the cartoons to teach his students about the importance of free speech.
Mayor Estrosi added: “13 days after #SamuelPaty, our country can no longer be satisfied with the laws of peace to destroy Islamo-fascism.”
Explosions were heard as the bomb squad detonated suspicious items found inside the church.
National prosecutors confirmed the incident is being treated as a terrorist attack as the suspect was taken to hospital.
Cops confirmed they have also carried out several controlled explosions inside the church.
French interior minister Gerald Darmanin tweeted: “A police operation is in progress.
“Avoid the area and follow the instructions.”
He announced he has called a “crisis meeting” in response to the attack.
A local police spokesman said: “A man has been arrested at the scene after being shot by police.
“At least two people dead and others injured.”
France has provoked the ire of Iran and Turkey as it has taken a tough line in defending the cartoons of the prophet.
He was was posthumously given the Legion d’Honneur – France’s highest award – and French president Emmanuel Macron insisted the country would “not give up our cartoons”.
Prophet Mohammed cartoons have been displayed in France in solidarity with Paty to defend what many in the country see as its values of free speech and secularism.
Macron has said he would redouble efforts to stop conservative Islamic beliefs subverting French values – which has angered many Muslims.
France has launched a crackdown on what it perceives to be radical Islam, announcing it has searched more than 120 homes and closed down a mosque in Pantin.
Paty, a history and geography teacher, is being seen as a champion of free speech by many in France after his brutal death.
The image he showed to students was the same one published by Charlie Hebdo that sparked the attack on the magazine’s offices that killed 12.
Nine people – including members of the attacker’s family – have been arrested over his death.
His killing came after another knife attack near the former offices of Charlie Hebdo just weeks prior – in which the suspect is believed to have tried to target the magazine.
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Yesterday, Iranian president Hassan Rouhani warned the row over the cartoons could lead to “violence and bloodshed”.
He said: “It’s a surprise that this would come from those claiming culture and democracy, that they would somehow, even if unintentionally, encourage violence and bloodshed.”
Rouhani added: “Westerners must understand the great Prophet of Islam is loved by all Muslims and freedom-lovers of the world.
“Insulting the Prophet is insulting all Muslims. Insulting the Prophet is insulting all prophets, human values, and amounts to undermining ethic.”