BAYONNE: An 84-year-old man and former election candidate for Marine Le Pen’s Right National Rally reportedly tried to burn a mosque and shot two men, on Monday.
According to sources, the suspect, named Claude Sinke attacked the mosque when the people were preparing for afternoon prayers.
Mayor of Bayonne, Jean-Rene Etchegaray spoke to media after the incident and said, “The man approached the building by car and threw an incendiary device against the side door of the mosque” adding, “The two people came out, he shot at them, hitting one in the neck and the other in the chest and arm. He then fled.”
The wounded men were taken to nearby hospital, added police sources.
According to police sources, the suspect fled the scene after setting his vehicle on fire. Police also found a handgun along with a gas canister from the site.
“The suspect threw an incendiary device at the mosque and then drove away. He was apparently trying to set fire to the mosque when two worshipers intervened and he shot them”, added a police official.
Later, he was arrested at his residence located in Saint-Martin-de-Seignanx, near Bayonne. The suspects admitted opening the fire on the two men. However, the motive for attacking the mosque remained unclear.
President, Emmanuel Macron condemned the incident and called it a “heinous attack.”
In a tweet, the President wrote,” Everything will be done to punish the perpetrators and protect our Muslim compatriots. I commit myself to it.”
On the otherh hand, the Interior Minister, Christophe Castaner also expressed “solidarity and support to the Muslim community.”
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