World
A woman lays flowers in front of the Notre-Dame de l'Assomption Basilica in Nice on October 30, 2020. Photo: Valery Hache/AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani has condemned Thursday’s terror attack which left three dead in the French city of Nice.
“I condemn the terror act against civilians in the French city of Nice, that killed a number of people. I extend my condolences to the people and government of France and share their grief during this difficult time," Barzani tweeted on Friday afternoon.
The southern French city is reeling after three people were stabbed to death on Thursday in an attack at the city’s central Notre Dame basilica.
The attacker, a 21-year-old Tunisian, repeatedly cried “God is the greatest” in Arabic after being apprehended by police, Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi told the press on Thursday.
Two victims, a 60-year-old woman and a 55-year-old church custodian, had their throats slit and were found inside the church. Another victim, 44, suffered multiple stab wounds and succumbed to her injuries after fleeing to a nearby restaurant, AFP reported.
Counter-terrorism police are now investigating the incident.
The tragedy comes two weeks after the beheading of history teacher Samuel Paty, killed for showing caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed in a class on freedom of expression.
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced the deployment of thousands of more troops around the country as the national terror level was raised to ‘emergency’.
"Quite clearly, it is France that is being attacked," the president added, vowing the country "will not give up on our values".
France, and Macron in particular, have been the subject of numerous demonstrations in recent days following the president’s defence of the caricatures during a national remembrance ceremony for Paty at the Sorbonne University on October 21.
Rallies have been held in support of a French boycott in numerous cities across the Middle East, including Baghdad and Istanbul, and shops in countries such as Qatar took French products off the shelves.
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