A police source said the priest was seriously injured. The source added that the accident occurred around 4 pm local time.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex told reporters that a “serious incident” had occurred, but “we do not have specific elements yet.” Castex also said that a “crisis center” would be activated.
The French Interior Ministry wrote on Twitter that a serious security incident was taking place near the Jean-Masset neighborhood of Lyon and that a security cordon was in place.
France on Thursday raised its national guidance on the state of alert against terrorism to its highest level of “emergency”, with up to 4,000 soldiers to be deployed to reinforce security in schools, churches and other places of worship.
Castex was in the northern French village of Saint-Étienne-de-Rouvray, where he traveled Saturday to check on new security measures taken after the Nice attack.
"Incurable communicator. General tv buff. Problem solver. Music aficionado. Pop culture trailblazer."