Obama wants to bring this here. Seven deadly Islamic attack in two weeks between France and Germany.
BREAKING NEWS: 86-year-old priest is killed by two ‘Islamic’ knifemen who slit his throat after taking nuns and worshippers hostage at French church before police shoot them both dead
A priest had his throat cut after two knifemen burst into the church at 9am.
Both attackers shot dead by police and another hostage is fighting for life.
At least one knifeman was dressed in Islamic clothing, French media report.
Raid happened at Gambetta Church, Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, Normandy.By Peter Allen In France and Julian Robinson for MailOnline, 26 July 2016.
An 86-year-old priest has been butchered by two ‘Islamic’ knifemen who cut his throat after bursting into a French church g shot dead by police.
Five people including the priest, two nuns and two parishioners were held by assailants who raided the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, near the city of Rouen in Normandy at 9am.
The clergyman was knifed to death during the attack while another hostage is fighting for their life in hosptial. The two attackers have been ‘neutralised’ by elite marksmen in a dramatic police operation.
At least one of the men was dressed in Islamic clothing, according to French media reports, and an anti-terrorist unit has already taken up the investigation.
A priest has been butchered by knifemen who cut his throat after bursting into a French church and taking hostages before being shot dead by police
The clergyman was knifed to death during the attack while another hostage is fighting for their life in hosptial. The two attackers have been ‘neutralised’ by elite marksmen in a dramatic police operation
Between four and six people were being held by the assailants in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, near the city of Rouen
The two men seized the priest, two sisters from a local order, and two parishioners, said the spokesman
‘A third nun escaped and raised the alarm, and anti-terrorists officers were on the scene within minutes,’ said a source who lives locally.
‘It appears that the priest who was celebrating the service was attacked first, and had his throat cut.
A priest, two nuns and two churchgoers were among those held after the men rushed into the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, in Normandy, France, during a morning service, soon after 9am.
Two men armed with knives took several people hostage at Church of the Gambetta (pictured) in France’s northern Normandy region on Tuesday, a police source said
‘The area around the church was sealed off, and then armed officers appeared with their weapons. I heard at least a dozen shots.’The siege officially ended at around 11am, following the shooting of the two attackers.
Units attending including the elite RAID, the anti-terrorist unit that was heavily involved in the Paris attacks last year, in which almost 150 people were murdered.
Anti-terrorist judges immediately opened an investigation in to today’s attack, as President Francois Hollande and Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve attended the scene.
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls tweeted that he was ‘horrified at the barbaric attack’ adding: ‘All France and all Catholics are bruised.’
The Vatican has condemned the ‘barbarous’ killing.
A number of shots were heard over a period of around 15 seconds as the incident came to an end.
Eulalie Garcia, who works in a beauty parlour, is on the same road as the church, and told reporters that she knew the 92-year-old priest, who had taught her the catechism as a young girl.
‘My family has lived here for 35 years and we have always known him,’ she said. ‘He was someone who was treasured by the community. He was very discreet and didn’t like to draw attention to himself.’
She said she was very shocked by the death of the priest, who lived opposite his church. ‘It can happen to anyone,’ she said.
The area around the church remained cordoned off and the old town was out of bounds.
The French Police Nationale gave no details about the situation but sent a Tweet urging media not to cross security tape at the scene or take pictures or video.
Saint-Etienne du Rouvray has a population of 30,000 and is around seven miles from Rouen.
The incident comes as France is on high alert after a Bastille Day attack that killed 84 people in Nice and a series of deadly attacks last year claimed by ISIS.
