A detailed account from witnesses in the Cadiz attack case
Two people were injured in the January 25 attack on two churches in Cadiz Algeciras. Before the judge this Friday, they described how they met the person who is under investigation and how the assault unfolded. A priest, Antonio Rodriguez, was seriously wounded with a machete and had to be hospitalized after the incident. The assailant later confessed to the attack during police investigations. [EFE]
National Court judge Joaquín Gadea completed the first round of witnesses as part of the inquiry into this incident. The assailant, described by Rodriguez as a person who has joined a jihadist ideology, spoke via videoconference. The suspect, a Moroccan citizen named Yasin Kanjaa, is charged with these facts. The judge indicated that the individual believed he was a convert who did not practice the true religion. [EFE]
Both witnesses maintained statements already provided to the Police. The details were not disclosed by the police but were reported to EFE by legal sources. In these testimonies, the witnesses spoke of the meetings with the person under investigation and described the sequence of events that led to the attack on the Salesian Antonio Rodriguez. The attack’s severity required Rodriguez to undergo surgical treatment at Punta de Europa University Hospital in the Cádiz municipality. [EFE]
The 74-year-old priest reportedly entered the house where the suspect resided and allowed a search to take place, according to the judge. Minutes after the ritual, he found himself attacked in the San Isidro neighborhood just as he stepped down from the pulpit to check what was happening. Those present heard someone outside the church shout in Arabic. The judge noted that the person under investigation suddenly attacked with a large machete and seriously injured himself, while also attempting to strike one of the witnesses present. [EFE]
The magistrate’s narration continues with the suspect moving to another location, the Virgen La Palma church, situated about 200 meters away. There he reportedly encountered pastor Diego Valencia, who escaped through the back door. The suspect then appeared to have killed Valencia with a pistol, shouting in Arabic, including the word Allah. [EFE]
According to the magistrate, the assault was directed at a Moroccan individual whom the assailant viewed as disloyal, believing this person had ties to a converted Moroccan who did not practice true religion. The attacker acted with the intent to kill. To date, all witnesses have confirmed their statements to the Police, and sources indicate the investigation is progressing. Once summary secrecy was lifted, there was no exclusion of the possibility that the accused or the defense might seek further proceedings. [EFE]
Updates in the case continue as investigators review additional testimonies and collect procedural details. The court remains focused on establishing the timeline of events, the identities involved, and the motive behind the attack, while ensuring due process for all parties involved. [EFE]