This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36901897

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
French church attack: Faith leaders call for more security French church attack: Faith leaders call for more security
(about 4 hours later)
French religious leaders have called for more security at places of worship following the murder of an elderly priest in Normandy on Tuesday.French religious leaders have called for more security at places of worship following the murder of an elderly priest in Normandy on Tuesday.
Representatives of Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Buddhist faiths spoke after meeting President Hollande.Representatives of Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Buddhist faiths spoke after meeting President Hollande.
Father Jacques Hamel was killed while conducting morning mass in his church. Father Jacques Hamel was killed while conducting morning mass in his church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, a suburb of Rouen.
One of the two men who attacked him was wearing an electronic surveillance tag, which was temporarily turned off under his probation conditions.
The killing came 12 days after the attack in Nice in which 84 people died.The killing came 12 days after the attack in Nice in which 84 people died.
Only one of the two attackers has been named. Adel Kermiche, 19, had twice tried to reach Syria to fight with the self-styled Islamic State group (IS).
What we know about church attack
France responds with calls for peace and understanding
Tributes to Fr Jacques Hamel
Airline's concerns over France as destination
Muslim leader Dalil Boubakeur, rector of Paris's Grand Mosque, said the leaders "deeply desire that our places of worship are the subject of greater [security] focus, a sustained focus", as even "the most humble place of worship" can be subject to an attack.Muslim leader Dalil Boubakeur, rector of Paris's Grand Mosque, said the leaders "deeply desire that our places of worship are the subject of greater [security] focus, a sustained focus", as even "the most humble place of worship" can be subject to an attack.
Tuesday's attack took place in an ordinary Catholic church in a suburb of Rouen.
Mr Boubakeur expressed "profound sorrow" on behalf of French Muslims at the attack, which he described as a "blasphemous sacrilege".Mr Boubakeur expressed "profound sorrow" on behalf of French Muslims at the attack, which he described as a "blasphemous sacrilege".
The Archbishop of Paris, Andre Vingt-Trois, praised the harmonious relations between France's religions.The Archbishop of Paris, Andre Vingt-Trois, praised the harmonious relations between France's religions.
"We must not let ourselves get pulled in to Daesh's political games," he said, referring to the self-styled Islamic State group (IS), saying it wanted "to set children of the same family against each other". "We must not let ourselves get pulled in to Daesh's political games," he said, using a pejorative term for IS, saying it wanted "to set children of the same family against each other".
President Francois Hollande has also held a meeting of his security and defence council on Wednesday morning, and is now chairing a cabinet meeting. President Francois Hollande has also been chairing meetings of his security and defence council and his cabinet.
European terror attacks
What we know about church attack
Tributes to Fr Jacques Hamel
Attack in pictures
'I am priest': Solidarity after church attack
Germans 'full of fear' over attacks
What drives individuals to commit mass killings?
On Tuesday Mr Hollande appealed for "unity" as he warned that the war against terrorism "will be long".On Tuesday Mr Hollande appealed for "unity" as he warned that the war against terrorism "will be long".
"Our democracy is the target, and it will be our shield. Let us stand together. We will win this war," he said."Our democracy is the target, and it will be our shield. Let us stand together. We will win this war," he said.
Only one of the two attackers has been named. Adel Kermiche, 19, had twice tried to reach Syria to fight with IS. According to Le Monde (in French), the prosecutor's office had asked for Kermiche to remain in detention but this was overruled by a judge. She ordered that he be released to house arrest with an electronic tag ensuring that he remained at home, except on weekday mornings.
According to Le Monde (in French), the prosecutor's office had asked for him to remain in detention but this was overruled by a judge. She ordered that he be released to house arrest with an electronic tag ensuring that he remained at home, except on weekday mornings.
This meant that on Tuesday morning he was free to leave the family home and head to the church.This meant that on Tuesday morning he was free to leave the family home and head to the church.
He and his fellow attacker slit Father Hamel's throat before being killed by police.He and his fellow attacker slit Father Hamel's throat before being killed by police.
One of four people taken hostage suffered severe knife wounds, prosecutor Francois Molins said.One of four people taken hostage suffered severe knife wounds, prosecutor Francois Molins said.
'I am a priest': Solidarity after church attack
Germans 'full of fear' over attacks
What drives individuals to commit mass killings?
French press snubs killer's images - Analysis by BBC Monitoring
In an editorial, Le Monde says it will no longer feature photographs of those behind attacks such as the one in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray.
It was doing so "to avoid giving posthumous credit" to those responsible, while adding that the intention of killing Father Hamel was to provoke "the blind vengeance that would place the entire country under the empire of hatred".
The move was repeated by the broadcaster BFM.
Elsewhere, Le Figaro's editorial accuses IS of continuing "to pursue its sinister plan: to turn the world into a bloody theatre of war" and calls on the French government to resort to "all military, police and judicial means to ensure the safety of our citizens - whether they believe in heaven or not".
The Catholic daily La Croix also declares that "responding to hatred with hatred would mean that evil has triumphed", while the left-of-centre Liberation maintains that "the war that Islamic State is waging against us is not a war against France, it is a war against freedom."
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.
That was followed by four violent incidents in a week in neighbouring Germany, two of which are linked to IS.That was followed by four violent incidents in a week in neighbouring Germany, two of which are linked to IS.
What we know of Adel KermicheWhat we know of Adel Kermiche
IS used its news agency to claim the attack in Normandy - thought to be its first on a church in the West.IS used its news agency to claim the attack in Normandy - thought to be its first on a church in the West.
Christians in Iraq and Syria have long been targeted by the group, with reports of forced conversions and killings.Christians in Iraq and Syria have long been targeted by the group, with reports of forced conversions and killings.
Syria's beleaguered ChristiansSyria's beleaguered Christians
Iraq's oldest Christian monastery destroyedIraq's oldest Christian monastery destroyed
The president of Normandy's regional council, Herve Morin, called for France to learn lessons from the countries hardest hit by terrorism. "We need to Israelise our security," the former French defence minister told Le Figaro.The president of Normandy's regional council, Herve Morin, called for France to learn lessons from the countries hardest hit by terrorism. "We need to Israelise our security," the former French defence minister told Le Figaro.