At least three people are dead and many more injured after a suspected terrorist attack at a cathedral in Nice. The incident took place just after 9 a.m. as Catholic mass began at the Notre Dame church, leading to a woman being decapitated and others stabbed in the holy building, Sky News reports. A police investigation is underway.
- The attacker is said to have shouted “Allahu Akbar.” The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, tweeted on Thursday morning following the attack, revealing that “everything suggests a terrorist attack” and claiming that the suspect shouted “Allahu Akbar” throughout. French politician Marine Le Pen claimed a woman had been decapitated during the attack.
- One person has been arrested. Local police told The AP that the suspect had been arrested and taken to a local hospital for treatment for injuries he sustained during his arrest. He is believed to have acted alone, but French interior minister Gerald Darmanin announced the launch of a police operation and urged people to stay away from the area.
- President Emmanuel Macron is due to travel to Nice. He should arrive sometime today to liaise with local government and assess the city’s needs following the attack.
- France is on high alert for terrorist attacks at the moment. The incident in Nice comes only a few weeks after the murder and decapitation of Samuel Paty in Paris. He was killed for showing a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammad during a lesson on free speech in his class.
