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France church attack: Priest killed by two 'IS soldiers' France church attack: Priest killed by two 'IS soldiers'
(about 1 hour later)
A priest has been killed in an attack by two armed men on 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 attackers entered the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray during Mass, taking the priest, Fr Jacques Hamel, 84, and four other people hostage. 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 and French TV said shots were fired. Both hostage-takers are now dead. Police later surrounded the church, in St-Etienne-du-Rouvray, and shot dead both hostage-takers.
The Amaq news agency, linked to so-called Islamic State, said "two IS soldiers" had carried out the attack. One of the hostages is in a critical condition in hospital.
President Francois Hollande said the men had claimed to be from IS. President Francois Hollande, visiting the scene, said the attackers had committed a "cowardly assassination" and France would fight IS "by all means".
Speaking in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, he 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".
French interior ministry spokesman, Pierre-Henri Brandet, said one of the hostages had been critically wounded. One attacker is reported to have been known to French police, and had tried to enter Syria last year.
He said the hostage-takers had been "neutralised" after coming out of the church. French prosecutors say one person has since been detained over the attack. One person has been arrested in connection with the attack, say French prosecutors.
'Treasured' priest The attack happened during morning Mass at the historic church, situated in a quiet square of St-Etienne-du-Rouvray.
Police sources said it appeared the attackers had slit the priest's throat with a knife. One nun who witnessed the attack, told BFM TV that the men forced Fr Hamel to his knees and recorded the killing, speaking Arabic as they did so. She says she fled as they were preparing to kill him.
The area was cordoned off while the church was searched for explosives, and police told people to stay away. Elite police units, specialised in hostage-taking, surrounded the church.
Mr Brandet said the investigation into the incident would be led by anti-terrorism prosecutors. 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.
One of the men was known to the French intelligence services, French TV channel M6 has reported. Three of the hostages were freed unharmed, but one remains in a critical condition, said French interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henri Brandet.
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has expressed his horror at the "barbaric attack". Within hours of the attack, the IS-linked Amaq news agency, said "two IS soldiers" had carried out the attack.
"The whole of France and all Catholics are wounded. We will stand together," he wrote on Twitter. 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 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 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 Catholic Church cannot take weapons other than those of prayer and brotherhood among men." 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 GardnerAnalysis - 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.
A woman who works at a local beauty parlour, Eulalie Garcia, said she had known the priest since her childhood. 'Treasured' priest
"My family has lived here for 35 years and we have always known him," she said. 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.
"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."
France has been on high alert since the Bastille Day attack in Nice earlier this month, when a man ploughed a lorry into celebrating crowds, killing more than 80 people. Pensioner Claude-Albert Seguin told AP: "Everyone knew him very well. He was very loved in the community and a kind man."
The Nice attack was carried out by Tunisian Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, who was not a known jihadist but so-called Islamic State said he had acted in response to its calls to target civilians in countries that have been attacking it. 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 BBC's Lucy Williamson in Paris says the French government has been under huge pressure to prevent further attacks. 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."
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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