Greek Orthodox priest shot with sawed-off shotgun outside a church in Lyon, France

An attacker armed with a sawn-off shotgun seriously wounded a Greek Orthodox priest in a shooting outside a church in the French city of Lyon last Saturday.

According to a police and the Lyon prosecutor's office, Nikolaos Kakavelaki, 52-year-old priest, is currently in a serious condition and is considered life -threatening.

The assailant was described wearing a long black coat and black beanie who seemed to hide the shotgun under his coat although his motive of the attack was not clear.

The Lyon public prosecutor’s said that the witnesses and a passing police patrol heard gunshots then saw an individual running and discovered a man with gunshot wounds at the back door of the church.

The prosecutor's already initiated an investigation of attempted murder.

Photo from CNN Philippines