Nice Attack Suspect Charged with Terrorism

A Tunisian, Aouissaoui reportedly arrived in Europe in late September, first at the Italian island Lampedusa before traveling to France.

Notre-Dame de Nice, the site of an Oct. 29, 2020 terrorist attack.
Notre-Dame de Nice, the site of an Oct. 29, 2020 terrorist attack. (photo: LimeWave Photo / (CC BY 2.0))

NICE, France — The perpetrator of an October knife attack inside Notre-Dame de Nice has been charged with terrorism, French officials said Monday.

Brahim Aouissaoui, 21, has charged with “assassinations in connection with a terrorist enterprise” and “participation in a criminal terrorist association”, authorities said Dec. 7.

The attacker on Oct. 29 killed three people in the church, including a 44-year-old mother of three; a 60 year old woman who had come to the church to pray; and the church’s 55 year old sacristan.

The attacker used a knife to carry out the killings and reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” as he did so.

Aouissaoui was shot and arrested by police, and was sent to hospital.

A Tunisian, Aouissaoui reportedly arrived in Europe in late September, first at the Italian island Lampedusa before traveling to France.

A 47 year old man suspected of being in contact with Aouissaoui was arrested Oct. 30.

Mohammed Moussaoui, president of French Council of Muslim Faith, condemned the terrorist attack and asked French Muslims to cancel their festivities for Mawlid, the Oct. 29 celebration of Muhammad's birthday, “as a sign of mourning and solidarity with the victims and their loved ones.”

Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, responded to the news of the attack on the basilica, writing on Twitter: “Islamism is a monstrous fanaticism which must be fought with force and determination ... Unfortunately, we Africans know this too well. The barbarians are always the enemies of peace. The West, today France, must understand this.”

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne attends a German Synodal Way assembly on March 9, 2023.

Four German Bishops Resist Push to Install Permanent ‘Synodal Council’

Given the Vatican’s repeated interventions against the German process, the bishops said they would instead look to the Synod of Bishops in Rome. Meanwhile, on Monday, German diocesan bishops approved the statutes for a synodal committee; and there are reports that the synodal committee will meet again in June.

Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church in Gaza City on March 31, amid the ongoing battles Israel and the Hamas militant group.

People Explain ‘Why I Go to Mass’

‘Why go to Mass on Sundays? It is not enough to answer that it is a precept of the Church. … We Christians need to participate in Sunday Mass because only with the grace of Jesus, with his living presence in us and among us, can we put into practice his commandment, and thus be his credible witnesses.’ —Pope Francis