French prime minister: 178 Catholic churches under police protection

April 23, 2015

After a planned terrorist attack on two French churches was averted, Prime Minister Manuel Valls announced that “specific protection” is being provided to 178 Catholic places of worship.

CNN reported that the attack was foiled when a 24-year-old Algerian computer science student allegedly murdered a woman and called for an ambulance, attempting to portray himself as a crime victim. A police investigation then uncovered the planned attack, which was linked to persons in Syria.

Le Monde reported that the attack was to have taken place on two Catholic churches in Villejuif, a suburb of Paris.

 

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Further information:

• 178 lieux de culte catholiques protégés (Le Monde)
• Man arrested in France in plot to attack churches (CNN)
• Church attack foiled in France, says interior minister (CWN, 4/22)