France: 3 dead in knife attack outside church in Nice; Mayor calls it ‘terrorist attack’

At least three people have lost ir lives and several left injured in a knife attack on October 29 inside a church in sourn French city of Nice, said police. re have also been unconfirmed reports in French media that at least one of victims had been beheaded. Christian Estrosi, mayor of Nice, said that attacker, who has been arrested, shouted “Allahu Akbar” while he was being restrained by police. Taking to Twitter, Estrosi has termed it a terrorist attack and called for an end to “fascism” in country.

attack occurred amid rising tension between France and Islamic countries over recent beheading of a French teacher who showed cartoons of Prophet Muhammad in class. Macron said that teacher, Samuel Paty, "was killed because Islamists want our future" but France would "t give up our cartoons", triggering anger in Muslim world. 

Increasing tensions between France and Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Macron “needs treatment” for his mental health condition and criticised his attitude toward Islam and Muslims. Erdogan’s comment infuriated France, prompting it to recall its ambassador to Turkey for consultation. situation furr deteriorated as Charlie Hebdo carried a caricature of Erdogan on its front-p of Wednesday edition in which Turkish leader could be seen holding a drink and lifting up skirt of a woman wearing a hijab. 

Read: France Urges Middle East To Stop Boycott Of French Products As Macron Defends Cartoons

Read: Pakistan Assembly Votes To Call Back n-existent Envoy From France, Netizens In Splits

Turkey vowed to take “legal, diplomatic actions” over a cartoon of Erdogan published by French magazine, urging all “sensible European friends” to fight back against “primitive cultural racism, intellectual barrenness, and uncivilized discourse.” Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun said in a statement that cartoons are loathsome and devoid of any real sense of human decency.

Meanwhile, India has condemned personal attacks launched against Macron due to his tough recent stance on terrorism. Ministry of External Affairs said that se attacks are a “violation of most basic standards of international discourse”. MEA also condemned brutal killing of French teacher, saying that re is justification for terrorism for any reason or under any circumstance. 

Read: Turkey Vows 'legal, Diplomatic Actions' Against Charlie Hebdo's Cartoon On Erdogan

Read: India Condemns 'personal Attacks' On Emmanuel Macron; Says 'thing Can Justify Terrorism'

(Im: Twitter / @cestrosi)