World leaders condemn deadly stabbings in France

Paris - Three killed in knife attack at France church.

World leaders condemned Thursday’s deadly stabbings in the French city of Nice, which authorities are investigating as a terrorist act, and expressed solidarity with France.

Condemnation came from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the pope and European leaders as well as from Turkey, which is involved in a heated diplomatic spat with Paris over blasphemous caricatures.

A knife-wielding man killed three people at a church in Nice on Thursday, slitting the throat of at least one.

The assailant was shot and wounded by police, Nice’s Mayor Christian Estrosi said.

“He kept repeating ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is Greatest) even while under medication” as he was brought to hospital, Estrosi told journalists.

The body of a woman whose throat had been cut in an apparent beheading attempt was found inside the Basilica of Notre-Dame. The body of a man was also found inside the church, while another woman succumbed to her injuries.

Meanwhile, in another incident, a Saudi man was arrested in Jeddah after attacking and wounding a security guard with a “sharp tool” at the French consulate. A statement from the Makkah region’s police said the guard suffered “minor injuries” and that “legal action” was being taken against the perpetrator. The French Embassy said the consulate was subject to an “attack by knife which targeted a guard”, adding the guard was taken to hospital and his life was not in danger. European Union leaders expressed solidarity with France as well, and pledged to confront “those that seek to incite and spread hatred”.

• Europe