While French presidential candidates were disputing in a televised debate, the city of Paris suffered yet another terrorist attack. This time, a Kalashnikov-wielding gunman murdered a policeman and critically wounded two others on the Champs-Élysées. The killer got out of the car next to a parked police van and opened fire through the window before officers returned fire and shot him dead. A female foreign tourist was also wounded. The Islamic State has already claimed responsibility for the attack.

Since the Charlie Hebdo massacre on Jan. 7, 2015, there have been more than 20 terrorist attacks on French soil, resulting in 238 deaths. This latest attack comes three days before the first round of presidential elections in France. In fact, the shooting occurred while the presidential candidates were debating on live television—prompting some to suggest that the terrorists are trying to influence the outcome of the election. The presidential race has narrowed to four top candidates, with polls revealing no clear leader. An alarming last-minute attack such as yesterday’s could make the election outcome more uncertain.

The French elections have implications outside of France’s borders. Two of the top four presidential candidates, Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mèlenchon, strongly oppose the European Union, viewing it as a German empire that must be challenged. Both candidates also strongly oppose nato.

This is why the Trumpet is watching the French elections. Its results will affect France’s standing in the European Union. It will affect other far-right groups in Europe. It will affect the European Union itself—Germany in particular. The Trumpet is also closely watching Germany’s reaction to the French elections. The far left and far right are pushing France to the brink, German newspaper Spiegel wrote. The four main players, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Emmanuel Macron, François Fillon and Marine Le Pen—as well as current president, François Hollande—together illustrate “a complete breakdown of established politics in France,” wrote Spiegel. “How did extremists become front-runners?” the German publication asked.

After the November 2015 Paris attacks, my father, Gerald Flurry, wrote an article titled “Where the Paris Attack Is Leading.” It is as relevant now, less than 24 hours after the radical Islamist attack on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, as it was in November. “Everyone is watching to see what France—and the Islamic State—will do next,” he wrote. (The candidates for Sunday’s election are just one aspect of France’s response.) “But there is another trend that you need to watch,” my father continued.

France is one of Europe’s liberal democracies full of immigrants. But it is also a Catholic country. Like Germany, Italy and many other European nations, its heritage is deeply rooted in the Holy Roman Empire.

You have to look not only for what France will do in the aftermath of this attack, but what Europe will do moving forward. …

The Bible prophesies that Europe will condense into a union of 10 kings following a fierce leader (Daniel 8) backed by the Vatican, and that this superpower will strike radical Islam. It will be like a boiling pot that overflows not only onto the Middle East, but onto Britain, America and Israel as well (Jeremiah 1:13-14).

Events in Europe—such as the most recent terrorist attack, the extremist presidential candidates, Germany’s watchful response—are hurtling the Continent and the world toward this disaster every day. Read my father’s article to understand the deep significance of these terrorist attacks. And keep watching Europe!