Man claiming to be Jesus injures seven monks in brutal attack at Spanish monastery

Seven Catholic priests were brutalised with a historic relic at a monastery in Spain on Saturday (Image: File)

A savage rampage at a monastery in Spain over the weekend has left several members of the clergy in hospital, after an intruder reportedly broke in and proclaimed "I am Jesus Christ and I am going to kill the monks."

After an extensive manhunt in the countryside surrounding Valencia, which lasted around 18 hours, police apprehended a suspect believed to be responsible for the brutal attack, which left a 76-year-old man battling for his life.

Initial reports on Saturday suggested that a Catholic Bishop had been slain during the sustained brutality, during which the attacker is alleged to have used a historical artifact, as well as a glass bottle, to assault monks at the monastery. However, emergency services have since verified that no one was killed, but one individual remains in a critical state in hospital following the onslaught.

The assault occurred at the Santo Espiritu del Monte Monastery around 10am Saturday, with local TV reporting that seven of the monks were injured after a man seized the staff from the statue of Saint Louis in the upper cloister and attempted to execute his plan to "kill the monks."

Spain's Guardia Civil spent the weekend scouring the countryside around Valencia after a man broke into a monastery, beat up seven monks, and ran off (Image: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Only two members of the order managed to evade the attack, one who was conducting mass, and another sitting in the garden, 

A 76-year-old man was urgently transported to Valencia for treatment after sustaining severe head trauma, which had triggered a mistaken report from Spain's Guardia Civil that a person had perished in the attack, reports the Mirror.

Seven friars aged between 56 and 95 were brutally assaulted, with three hospitalised due to injuries including bruises, cuts, and "trauma." El Mundo sources revealed the assailant, a 46-year-old Spanish national, used sticks, glass bottles, and a historical artifact in the attack.

The Gilet city council confirmed the arrest near Valencia, stating: "The State Security Forces and Corps inform us that during this morning they have proceeded to arrest the aggressor of the friars of Sant Esperit," labelling the incident "atrocious."

The convent expressed solidarity with the victims, saying: "With the exception of Brother Antonio Ivars Solbes, who was in the garden and Brother Federico Allara Aragó, who was in the chaplaincy celebrating mass, the rest of the brothers have been violently attacked and we are worried."

They called for the attacker to recognise the harm caused and correct his behaviour, urging the brothers "to be more attentive to prevent people from entering our fraternities that can cause damage of any kind, and thus know how to take care of each other."