Moscow: Knife attack in church, two injured

(Patria) – Moscow police arrested a man on suspicion of stabbing two people with a knife in an Orthodox church on Sunday.

Police said that for now the attack is not considered terrorist-related.

- Police arrested a 26-year-old man from the Lipetsk region (southern Moscow) who entered the church on Sunday morning and attacked two people with a knife, inflicting injuries, said Irina Volk, spokeswoman for the Russian Interior Ministry.

The injured victims are in hospital. The motive of the attacker, who entered the church during Sunday mass, is still unknown.

Priest Kirill Sladkoov said the attacker was wearing glasses, rubber gloves, and listening to music with headphones.

- We approached him to see what was happening and to ask him to quietly leave the church. At that moment, he grabbed a knife and attacked my assistant. After that, my other assistants tried to stop him; then he stabbed my other colleague twice, the priest told police.

The Euronews portal writes that knife attacks are relatively rare in Russia, but also that several such attacks have occurred in recent years. ISIL claimed responsibility for several attacks, but police have not officially investigated terrorist motives.