Individual behind French church attack in hospital

The individual thought to be behind the knife attacks in Notre Dame church in Nice this morning is in hospital. Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, has confirmed that the suspected perpetrator of the attacks – which killed three and left more injured – was shot by police at the scene. Estrosi has confirmed that the attacker is still alive.

No other information about the attacker has been confirmed, although witnesses at the scene have reported that he was shouting “Allahu Akbar” around the time of the attacks. Local reports have confirmed that one of the victims, a woman, was beheaded by the attacker. She is thought to have been the church warden.

“Enough is enough,” Estrosi told reporters. “It’s time now for France to exonerate itself from the laws of peace in order to definitively wipe out Islamo-fascism from our territory.”

The French Council for the Muslim Faith has condemned the attacks. A representative released a statement calling on Muslims in France to cancel festivities for Mawlid, the celebration of the birth of Muhammad, the founder of Islam: “As a sign of mourning and solidarity with the victims and their loved ones, I call on all Muslims in France to cancel all the celebrations of the holiday of Mawlid.”

Churches in Nice have been closed and are being protected by armed police.