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| France church attack: Priest killed by two 'IS soldiers' | France church attack: Priest killed by two 'IS soldiers' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An 84-year-old priest was killed and four other people taken hostage by two armed men who stormed his church in a suburb of Rouen in northern France. | An 84-year-old priest was killed and four other people taken hostage by two armed men who stormed his church in a suburb of Rouen in northern France. |
| The two attackers, who said they were from the so-called Islamic State (IS), slit Fr Jacques Hamel's throat during a morning Mass, officials say. | The two attackers, who said they were from the so-called Islamic State (IS), slit Fr Jacques Hamel's throat during a morning Mass, officials say. |
| Police later surrounded the church, in St-Etienne-du-Rouvray, and shot dead both hostage-takers. | Police later surrounded the church, in St-Etienne-du-Rouvray, and shot dead both hostage-takers. |
| One of the hostages is in a critical condition in hospital. | One of the hostages is in a critical condition in hospital. |
| European terror attacks | European terror attacks |
| Germans 'full of fear' over attacks | Germans 'full of fear' over attacks |
| What drives individuals to commit mass killings? | What drives individuals to commit mass killings? |
| President Francois Hollande, visiting the scene, said the attackers had committed a "cowardly assassination" and France would fight IS "by all means". | President Francois Hollande, visiting the scene, said the attackers had committed a "cowardly assassination" and France would fight IS "by all means". |
| Pope Francis decried the "pain and horror of this absurd violence". | Pope Francis decried the "pain and horror of this absurd violence". |
| UK Prime Minister Theresa May branded the attack "sickening" and offered her condolences to the people of France. | |
| One attacker is reported to have been known to French police, and had tried to enter Syria last year. | One attacker is reported to have been known to French police, and had tried to enter Syria last year. |
| Police special forces raided a house in Saint-Etienne-du-Rovray in the aftermath of the attack, and French prosecutors earlier said one person had been arrested. | Police special forces raided a house in Saint-Etienne-du-Rovray in the aftermath of the attack, and French prosecutors earlier said one person had been arrested. |
| The attack happened during morning Mass at the historic church, situated in a quiet square of St-Etienne-du-Rouvray. | The attack happened during morning Mass at the historic church, situated in a quiet square of St-Etienne-du-Rouvray. |
| A nun, who identified herself as Sister Danielle, said she was in the church at the time. | |
| "They forced [Fr Hamel] to his knees. He wanted to defend himself, and that's when the tragedy happened," she told French media. | |
| "They recorded themselves. They did a sort of sermon around the altar, in Arabic. It's a horror". | |
| She said she managed to flee as they were preparing to kill him. | |
| Elite police units, specialised in hostage-taking, surrounded the church. | Elite police units, specialised in hostage-taking, surrounded the church. |
| President Hollande said the attackers claimed to be from the self-styled IS before they were killed by police as they came out of the church. | President Hollande said the attackers claimed to be from the self-styled IS before they were killed by police as they came out of the church. |
| Three of the hostages were freed unharmed, but one remains in a critical condition, said French interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henri Brandet. | Three of the hostages were freed unharmed, but one remains in a critical condition, said French interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henri Brandet. |
| Within hours of the attack, the IS-linked Amaq news agency, said "two IS soldiers" had carried out the attack. | Within hours of the attack, the IS-linked Amaq news agency, said "two IS soldiers" had carried out the attack. |
| Few details are yet known about the attackers, but Mohammed Karabila, a local Muslim leader, told the Associated Press that one of them had been "followed by police for at least a year and a half". | Few details are yet known about the attackers, but Mohammed Karabila, a local Muslim leader, told the Associated Press that one of them had been "followed by police for at least a year and a half". |
| The French ITele website also said one of them had tried to reach Syria in May 2015 but was turned back at the Turkish border. | The French ITele website also said one of them had tried to reach Syria in May 2015 but was turned back at the Turkish border. |
| According to the report, he then spent nearly a year in prison before being released in March, on condition he wear an electronic tag and move back in with his parents. | According to the report, he then spent nearly a year in prison before being released in March, on condition he wear an electronic tag and move back in with his parents. |
| Analysis - BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner | Analysis - BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner |
| After criticisms of police shortcomings over the Nice attack on 14 July, French anti-terrorist police moved with commendable speed to close down this hostage situation in a Norman church. | After criticisms of police shortcomings over the Nice attack on 14 July, French anti-terrorist police moved with commendable speed to close down this hostage situation in a Norman church. |
| Observers have pointed out that France and other countries are now moving more quickly towards what is called tactical intervention - overwhelming armed force aimed at minimising the period during which terrorists or armed criminals can threaten the public. | Observers have pointed out that France and other countries are now moving more quickly towards what is called tactical intervention - overwhelming armed force aimed at minimising the period during which terrorists or armed criminals can threaten the public. |
| The selection of a church by the attackers, whom IS refer to as its "soldiers", crosses a new red line in the grim history of recent attacks on continental Europe. The murder of a defenceless 84-year-old priest in this attack will have further inflamed public opinion. | The selection of a church by the attackers, whom IS refer to as its "soldiers", crosses a new red line in the grim history of recent attacks on continental Europe. The murder of a defenceless 84-year-old priest in this attack will have further inflamed public opinion. |
| News that one of the attackers was on the French government's terror watch-list, known as the S list, will prompt many to question its purpose if he can remain at large to carry a knife into a church. | News that one of the attackers was on the French government's terror watch-list, known as the S list, will prompt many to question its purpose if he can remain at large to carry a knife into a church. |
| 'Treasured' priest | 'Treasured' priest |
| Residents of St-Etienne-du-Rouvray reacted with shock and sadness to the killing of Fr Hamel, a well-known figure in the community. | Residents of St-Etienne-du-Rouvray reacted with shock and sadness to the killing of Fr Hamel, a well-known figure in the community. |
| "My family has lived here for 35 years and we have always known him," said Eulalie Garcia. | "My family has lived here for 35 years and we have always known him," said Eulalie Garcia. |
| "He was someone who was treasured by the community. He was very discreet and didn't like to draw attention to himself." | "He was someone who was treasured by the community. He was very discreet and didn't like to draw attention to himself." |
| Pensioner Claude-Albert Seguin told AP: "Everyone knew him very well. He was very loved in the community and a kind man." | Pensioner Claude-Albert Seguin told AP: "Everyone knew him very well. He was very loved in the community and a kind man." |
| French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has expressed his horror at the "barbaric attack" and said: "The whole of France and all Catholics are wounded. We will stand together." | French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has expressed his horror at the "barbaric attack" and said: "The whole of France and all Catholics are wounded. We will stand together." |
| The Archbishop of Rouen, Dominique Lebrun, who was attending a Catholic gathering in Poland, said: "I cry out to God with all men of goodwill. I would invite non-believers to join in the cry. | The Archbishop of Rouen, Dominique Lebrun, who was attending a Catholic gathering in Poland, said: "I cry out to God with all men of goodwill. I would invite non-believers to join in the cry. |
| "The Catholic Church cannot take weapons other than those of prayer and brotherhood among men." | "The Catholic Church cannot take weapons other than those of prayer and brotherhood among men." |
| France is still reeling from the Bastille Day attack in Nice earlier this month, when a lorry was driven into celebrating crowds by Tunisian Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, killing more than 80 people. | France is still reeling from the Bastille Day attack in Nice earlier this month, when a lorry was driven into celebrating crowds by Tunisian Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, killing more than 80 people. |
| Are you in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray? Have you been affected by the hostage incident? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray? Have you been affected by the hostage incident? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
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