Spain church attacks: Suspect was facing deportation

Authorities claim that a guy who is accused of killing a church caretaker and injuring a priest in southern Spain was going to be deported.

The event took place on Wednesday when a man in the city of Algeciras invaded two churches while carrying a machete.

A 25-year-old Moroccan male was quickly taken into custody after being disarmed. The suspect, who is believed to have acted alone, was scheduled to be taken to the Spanish capital of Madrid to face terrorism-related accusations before the High Court.

The suspect, who was in the country illegally, was reportedly scheduled for deportation in June, according to the authorities. He was not under surveillance and had no criminal or terrorism-related convictions in Spain or any of its allies.

However, according to the Gibraltar authorities, he was expelled from the island in 2019 for violating immigration laws.

For migrants crossing the Strait of Gibraltar from Morocco, Algeciras serves as the main transit centre.

Outside the church where Diego Valencia, the verger, was assassinated, hundreds of people observed a moment of silence. Many people sobbed as mourners lighted candles and left flowers in his honour.

The victim, who made it outside the church, was mortally wounded after being attacked again, according to the interior ministry.

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