A 76-year-old monk has died following an attack by a man claiming to be Jesus Christ at a monastery in southeastern Spain, according to the Franciscan order. The violent incident occurred on Saturday morning at the Santo Espiritu del Monte monastery near Gilet, north of Valencia, when a middle-aged man burst into the cloister and attacked monks during breakfast.
The assailant, shouting “I am Jesus Christ” and threatening to kill the brothers, used various objects, including sticks and a bottle, to assault the monks, according to Brother Angel Ramon. Brother Ramon managed to drive the attacker away and immediately called the police.
One of the injured monks was hospitalised in critical condition but tragically succumbed to his injuries on Monday, leaving the Franciscan community in “deep sadness,” a spokesperson said.
The attacker, who fled into the nearby hills, was later apprehended. Local reports indicate that the 46-year-old Spaniard, who suffers from psychiatric issues and a history of drug addiction, is due to appear before a magistrate on Tuesday.
