Pictured: Greek Orthodox priest who was shot in the stomach in Lyon - as Macron refuses to bow to pressure across the Muslim world amid more protests over his defence of Charlie Hebdo cartoons

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A Greek Orthodox priest is fighting for his life in hospital after being shot by an attacker carrying a sawn-off hunting rifle in the French city of Lyon.

Nikolaos Kakavelakis, a 45-year-old father of two, is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after being hit in the abdomen.

Authorities have arrested a suspect after locking down part of the city and launching a manhunt for the assailant amid fears of more attacks. 

It came hours after French President Emmanuel Macron said it's 'our duty to protect our freedoms' as furious protests continue to rage across the Muslim world against his comments over the Charlie Hebdo cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.   

Macron gave a long interview setting out his vision to Qatar-based TV channel Al-Jazeera today. 

'I can understand that people could be shocked by the caricatures but I will never accept that violence can be justified,' he said.

'I consider it our duty to protect our freedoms and our rights,' he added.

Fury against French President Emmanuel Macron continues to rage across the Muslim world as protests were held today in India, Pakistan and Iraq over the premier's stance on Charlie Hebdo cartoons.  

Macron has become the focal point of Islamic fury after defending Charlie Hebdo cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed which were used as justification for a teacher's murder in the Paris suburbs two weeks ago.  

After three people were murdered in Nice Thursday in the latest in a long line of terror attacks in France, Macron said that France will not 'give up on our values' despite fury at the caricatures. 

Protests are being staged across the Muslim world, with demonstrations seen in Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, and India.  

'A person who could correspond to the description given by the initial witnesses has been placed in policy custody,' Lyon's public prosecutor Nicolas Jacquet said in a statement, adding that the suspect had not been been carrying a weapon when he was arrested.

Investigators are now trying to establish the man's identity, the statement said. He was reportedly arrested in a kebab shop in the city. 

Kakavelakis, a Greek citizen, was locking up his church when a gunman struck at around 4pm on Saturday.   

Greek Orthodox priest Nikolaos Kakavelakis is fighting for his life after being shot in the abdomen by an unknown attacker in Lyon on Saturday afternoon

Security and emergency personnel at the scene of an attack on a Greek Orthodox priest who was shot in the abdomen in Lyon, France on Saturday

People chant slogans as they set fire to France's flag during a protest against the cartoon publications of Prophet Mohammad in France and comments by the French President Emmanuel Macron, in Karachi, Pakistan today 

Demonstrators chant slogans as they march with a large banner calling for a boycott of French products and depicting French President Emmanuel Macron with the nose and ears of a pig, during a rally protesting against the comments of Macron over Prophet Mohammed cartoons in Yemen's country's third-city of Taez today 

Iraqis protest against comments by French President Emmanuel Macron defending cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in Halabja, Iraq today 

A boy wearing a Halloween mask observes police behind a cordon set up near an Orthodox church in Lyon where a priest was shot on Saturday

A soldier stands behinds a cordon near the scene where Greek Orthodox priest Nikolaos Kakavelakis was shot by an unknown attacker in Lyon on Saturday afternoon

Authorities have arrested a suspect after locking down part of the city and launching a manhunt for the assailant amid fears of more attacks

Police cordoned off the largely residential neighbourhood around the church and warned the public on social networks to stay away. 

Witnesses to the attack on Kakavelakis, who has been in France since 2012, said they heard the sound of two gunshots and then the sound of a woman screaming.     

It is thought that the woman's screams caused the attacker to flee. 

The gunman was described as 'male and in his forties' armed with a sawn-off hunting rifle. He is thought to have fired his weapon twice.  

A Greek Orthodox priest has been shot and severely wounded by an attacker in the French city of Lyon. (Pictured: Law enforcement attending the scene of the shooting today)

The church where Kakavelakis ministered is well known to the sizeable Greek community in Lyon.

It is thought that there were no guards outside the Church, as there are at other Christian places of worship in France.  

Kakavelakis is a 45-year-old Greek citizen and a father of two. He was locking up the church when he was shot

Kakavelakis is an Archpriest, a term used in Eastern Christian religions to describe a non-monastic priest, who was easily identifiable as a member of the clergy because of his distinctive religious attire.

The Assembly of Orthodox Bishops in France (AEOF) said it 'condemned such acts of violence that threaten lives and spread a general climate of insecurity'. 

The reason for the shooting was unclear, Lyon Mayor Gregory Doucet told reporters on Saturday as the Lyon prosecutor opened an investigation for attempted murder.

'No theory is favoured, no theory is ruled out,' Doucet said. 'We don't know at this stage the motive for this attack.'

Antoine Callot, the pastor at another Greek Orthodox church in Lyon, identified the wounded priest as Nikolas Kakavelakis, a 45-year-old father of two, the Associated Press news agency reported.

Mr Callot told the AP that the Greek Orthodox community in Lyon has not received any threats, but said he immediately asked police for security protection at his church after the shooting.

'We are anxious and anguished. It's really horrible,' he said. 'Now we need to hide and be careful.' 

Sunday's violence follows an attack at a church in Nice on Thursday in which three people were killed and comes amid high tensions between France and the Muslim world over comments made by French President Emmanuel Macron in defence of controversial cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed.

French anti-terrorist authorities were not investigating Saturday's shooting, although the interior minister activated a special emergency team to follow the case while the gunman was still at large. 

Following the attack, French Prime Minister Jean Castex said: 'This is a very serious incident. Details are still emerging. A crisis unit has been set up.'   

Castex later reiterated government promises to deploy military forces at religious sites and schools.

He said French people can 'count on the nation to allow them to practise their religion in full safety and freedom'.

French soldiers and police officers guard a cordon near the Orthodox church where an attacker shot a priest on Saturday in Lyon

Mayor of Lyon Gregory Doucet told reporters that the motive for the attack was still unclear on Saturday evening following the attack on the Orthodox clergyman

A police officer searches for clues outside a Greek Orthodox church where a priest was shot on Saturday afternoon

Fanny Dubot, the Mayor of the 7th arrondissement of Lyon, said 'the security initiative had been stepped up' in Lyon since the Nice attack, but she was 'not aware' of specific measures being made to secure the Greek Orthodox church in her district.

Gerard Darmanin, France's Interior Minister, confirmed he had opened a crisis unit in Paris, and told anyone in Lyon to 'avoid the area and follow instructions'.

Those living in the area were told to lock themselves in their homes and stay away from public places. 

Security and emergence personnel gather at the scene of the attack in Lyon on Saturday as a man hunt continues across the city

The attack came on Saturday as President Macron said it was 'our duty to protect our freedoms' as furious protests continued to rage against Charlie Hebdo cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that he has backed.

Mr Macron told Qatar-based TV channel Al Jazeera: 'I can understand that people could be shocked by the caricatures but I will never accept that violence can be justified.

'I consider it our duty to protect our freedoms and our rights.' 

Saturday's attack follows the murder of three people in an Islamist terrorist attack on a Catholic basilica in the southern city of Nice on Thursday.

Brahim Aoussaoui, the 21-year-old Tunisian behind the attack, survived despite being shot 14 times by police, and is currently under armed guard in a secure hospital wing.

French President Emmanuel Macron immediately declared France 'under attack' following disturbing incidents related to extremists targeting Christians.

Pictured: The Eglise Orthodoxe Grecque church in Lyon outside which a priest was shot earlier today. The man is now fighting for his life in hospital

The attacks come amid fury across the Islamic world over President Macron's defence of satirical cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed and mocking the Muslims who revere him.

There have been numerous calls from Al-Qaeda to attack French interests. 

During a visit to emergency service personnel in Nice on Thursday, Mr Macron said: 'We won't give in. Once again, our country has been hit by an Islamist terrorist attack.

'Once again, this morning, it was three of our compatriots who fell, in Nice, in this basilica. Very clearly, it is France that is under attack.'

Macron's comments followed the killing of school teacher Samuel Paty in the Paris suburb of Conflans Sainte Honorine earlier this month.

Mr Paty was beheaded by an 18-year-old Chechen refugee after the teacher showed the Charlie Hebdo cartoons to children.

Mr Macron has placed 4000 extra soldiers on the streets of France, in part to protect churches and other places of worship. 

Fury against French President Emmanuel Macron continues to rage across the Muslim world as protests were held today in India, Pakistan and Iraq over the premier's stance on Charlie Hebdo cartoons.

Macron has become the focal point of Islamic fury after defending Charlie Hebdo cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed following the murder of Mr Paty. 

People chant slogans as they set fire to France's flag during a protest against the cartoon publications of Prophet Mohammed in France and comments by the French President Emmanuel Macron, in Karachi, Pakistan today 

Protesters burn effigy of French President Emmanuel Macron during a protest in Karachi, Pakistan on Saturday. The rally followed days of protests in Pakistan and elsewhere following Macron's defence of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed

Supporters of international Islamic organisation Tahaffuz Khatm e Nubuwwat shout slogans during a demonstration against Macron in Karachi, Pakistan on Saturday

People burn a picture of French President Emmanuel Macron during a protest against his comments about Prophet Mohammed caricatures, in Peshawar, Pakistan today 

Demonstrators chant slogans as they march with a large banner calling for a boycott of French products and depicting French President Emmanuel Macron with the nose and ears of a pig, during a rally protesting against the comments of Macron over Prophet Mohammed cartoons in Yemen's country's third-city of Taez today 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Western countries mocking Islam on Wednesday of wanting to 'relaunch the Crusades', heightening a confrontation with France over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that have stirred anger in Muslim-majority countries.

In a speech to lawmakers of his ruling AK Party in parliament, Erdogan also said that standing against attacks on the Prophet was 'an issue of honour for us', suggesting that Ankara may be digging in for a prolonged standoff. 

The caricatures are considered blasphemous by Muslims. 

Iraqis protest against comments by French President Emmanuel Macron defending cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in Halabja, Iraq today 

Muslim demonstrators hold a placard with a picture of French President Emmanuel Macron Macron with a footprint over his face during a protest near the French consulate in Kolkata, India today 

Erdogan had already sharply criticised Macron at the weekend, saying the French leader needed a mental health check, prompting France to recall its ambassador from Ankara. 

On Monday, Erdogan urged a boycott of French products.

The Turkish leader again questioned Macron's state of mind on Wednesday and, in remarks addressed to 'the West', described colonial powers as 'murderers' for their record in Africa and the Middle East.

A protester carries an effigy of French President Emmanuel Macron during a protest in Karachi, Pakistan on October 31, 2020

A protester jumps on an effigy of French President Emmanuel Macron during a protest in Karachi today against Macron's defence of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed 

Protesters throw an effigy of French President Emmanuel Macron during a protest in Karachi today, one of many taking place in the Muslim world following comments made by Macron

Protesters hold a placard and banner depicting French President Emmanuel Macron during a protest against Macron's comments considered insulting to Muslims, in Makassar, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia today 

'They literally want to relaunch the Crusades. Since the Crusades, the seeds of evil and hatred have started falling on these (Muslim) lands and that's when peace was disrupted.'

Turkish officials said separately Ankara would take legal and diplomatic steps in response to a caricature of Erdogan in Charlie Hebdo, which officials called a 'disgusting effort' to 'spread its cultural racism and hatred'.

The cartoon on the cover of Charlie Hebdo showed Erdogan sitting in a white t-shirt and underpants, holding a canned drink and lifting the skirt of a woman wearing a hijab to reveal her naked bottom.  

Iraqis protest against comments by French President Emmanuel Macron defending cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in Halabja, Iraq today 

Demonstrators stand on defaced posters of France's President Emmanuel Macron on a road during a protest against the publications of a cartoon of Prophet Mohammed in France and Macron's comments, outside a French consulate in Kolkata today 

Demonstrators chant slogans as they march with banners during a rally protesting against the comments of French President Emmanuel Macron in Taez today 

'Our battle against these rude, ill-intentioned and insulting steps will continue until the end, with reason but determination,' Turkey's Communications Directorate said.

State media reported that Turkish prosecutors had launched an investigation into Charlie Hebdo's executives. 

The French government saw the beheading as an attack on freedom of speech, and said it would defend the right to display the cartoons.

Demonstrators chant slogans as they march with banners during a rally protesting against the comments of French President Emmanuel Macron over Prophet Mohammed cartoons in Yemen's third-city of Taez today 

A placard and banner depicting French President Emmanuel Macron are seen during a protest against Macron's comments considered insulting to Muslims, in Makassar, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia today 

Protesters hold placards during a protest against comments of French President Emmanuel Macron considered insulting to Muslims, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia today 

Placards reading 'The yellow Devil is in Paris' hang in a window as a mark of a protest against the publications of a cartoon of Prophet Mohammed in France and French President Emmanuel Macron's comments, in Almaty, Kazakhstan today 

Macron has said he would redouble efforts to stop conservative Islamic beliefs subverting values in fiercely secular France. 

France's foreign ministry on Tuesday issued safety advice to French citizens in Muslim-majority countries including Indonesia, Turkey, Bangladesh, Iraq and Mauritania, advising them to exercise caution. 

They should stay away from any protests over the cartoons and avoid any public gatherings, the advice said.

In Cairo, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said freedom of expression should stop if it offended more than 1.5 billion people - the global Muslim population

The Grand Imam of Egypt's Al-Azhar university, one of the world's most eminent seats of Sunni Muslim learning, urged the international community to criminalise 'anti-Muslim' actions.

Muslim activists of different organisations stage a protest against French President Emmanuel Macron, near the French Consulate in Kolkata, India today 

Muslim activists from various organizations participate in a protest against France, near the French Consulate, in Kolkata, India today 

Muslim demonstrators shout slogans during an protest near the French consulate in Kolkata, India on Saturday, one of many being held across the Muslim world

Indonesian president Joko Widodo today condemned what he called 'terrorist' attacks in France, but also warned that remarks by President Macron had 'insulted Islam' and 'hurt the unity of Muslims everywhere.'

Conservative Islamic organisations in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country, have called for protests and boycotts of French goods, sharing an image of Macron as a red-eyed devilish snail.

'Freedom of speech that injures the noble purity and sacred values and symbol of religion is so wrong, it shouldn't be justified and it needs to stop,' the Indonesian leader, who is known by his popular name Jokowi, said in a televised address.

He added, however, that 'linking religion to acts of terrorism is a massive mistake. Terrorists are terrorists.'

Students of Jamaat-e-Islami party shout slogans during a protest in Lahore, Pakistan today following comments made by French President Emmanuel Macron in defence of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed

Students of Jamaat-e-Islami party shout slogans during a protest in Lahore, Pakistan today after French president Macron defended cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed - depictions of the Prophet are extremely offensive to Muslims

Somalis march during a protest against the publications of a cartoon of Prophet Mohammed in France and French President Emmanuel Macron's comments, along the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia yesterday 

Mourners gather outside the Notre Dame de l-Assomption Basilica in Nice on Saturday days after three people were killed there in a terrorist attack

A man holds the French flag as he prays outside of the church in Nice where three people were killed in a terror attack on Thursday

A woman raises her fist in tribute to those who died in an terrorist attack on a Catholic church in Nice on Thursday. Mourners gathered outside the church on Saturday

Floral tributes and candles are heaped outside the Notre Dame de l'Assomption Basilica in Nice on Saturday following the killing of three people at the church in a terror attack on Thursday