An Orthodox priest was shot in a church in the French city of Lyon

An Orthodox priest was shot this Saturday in a Greek Orthodox temple in the French city of Lyon, in the east of the country.

His attacker has fled, according to local media.

The priest, who has indicated that he did not know the attacker, has been shot twice around 4:00 p.m. while he was closing the church.

He is being treated for injuries to the abdomen and his life "is in danger," according to police sources.

The area, which is cordoned off by law enforcement, is located in the 7th district of the city, in the neighborhood known as Jean Macé.

The Ministry of the Interior, which has already indicated that an intervention is being carried out and a security perimeter has been installed, has launched an alert to the public on its Twitter account to recommend to the population to avoid traveling through the area and to respond to the indications of the authorities.

The attack comes two days after three people were slit their throats in a Catholic basilica in Nice, prompting the French government to tighten security at religious temples on the eve of the Christian holiday of All Saints.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex, who was visiting Rouen, has advanced that he will return to Paris to assess the situation.

The Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, has advanced on Twitter that he will open a crisis cabinet, with Castex and the president of France, Emmanuel Macron.

“Avoid the area and follow directions.

Support our security and rescue forces on site.

I return to Paris and open the crisis unit, together with the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister ”, he wrote.