A Spanish court has begun the terrorism trial of a Moroccan man accused of carrying out a deadly machete attack on two churches in 2023 — an incident that shocked the entire nation.
Prosecutors are seeking a 50-year prison sentence for the suspect, 27-year-old Yassine Kanjaa, who faces charges of terrorist murder and attempted terrorist murder following the assaults in the southern port city of Algeciras.
According to details presented before the court, Kanjaa left his home on January 25, 2023, armed with a large machete. He first assaulted a young student on the street before storming the San Isidro church mid-service, where he brutally attacked a 75-year-old priest, inflicting severe neck wounds.
He then moved to a nearby church, where he chased down a sacristan and struck him multiple times with the machete, killing him instantly. The victim, a married father of two, was described as a beloved figure in the local community.
Kanjaa was later arrested after attempting to break into a third church, which was closed at the time. Investigators revealed that in the months leading up to the attack, he had undergone a process of radicalisation, embracing extremist ideologies that justified violence against other faiths.
Despite being diagnosed with psychotic disorders and probable schizophrenia, prosecutors maintain that his mental impairment did not fully compromise his ability to understand or control his actions.
Before the incident, Kanjaa had no criminal record but was living in Spain illegally and facing deportation.
The trial, taking place at Spain’s top criminal court, the Audiencia Nacional, is expected to last three days. Eyewitnesses began testifying on Monday, while police officers, forensic experts, and Kanjaa himself are scheduled to appear later in the week, Zoyols Blog reports.
