France church attack: Priest ‘killed’ after men armed with knives take hostages at Normandy church

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Just a fortnight after the Nice Attack which killed 84 people a priest has reportedly been killed at a church in northern France during a suspected terror attack by men armed with knives.

Police sources told the AFP news agency the murdered man was among hostages taken on Tuesday morning, while a second hostage was in a life-threatening condition.

Local reports said the two attackers stormed the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray during a service, taking the priest, two nuns and several members of the congregation hostage.

Police said officers “neutralised” both attackers an operation near Rouen, Normandy, on Tuesday morning and did not immediately confirm the number of victims injured.

Officials made no indication of a motive for the attack and there was no immediate claim of responsibility from terror groups.

The Paris prosecutor said the incident was being investigated by the national counter-terrorism task force (SDAT) and the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI) intelligence agency.

France has been on high alert since the so-called Islamic State’s bombings and shootings in Paris on 13 November last year.

 

Sourced from Independent, Featured image courtesy: www.independent.co.uk

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