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| Father Jacques Hamel |
This morning a Catholic priest near Normandy, City of Rouen, France was found dead after two men armed with knives took hostages at a church and slit the priest's throat. New reports states the knife-men shouted 'Daesh' a message in support of Islamic State (ISIS) as they launched the attack. Before police units rushed to the church in the Normandy town of Saint-Etienne-du Rouvray and shot them dead after a long gun battle.
A spokesman for the ministry of the interior, Pierre-Henry Brandet, confirmed that the priest was dead and said another hostage was "between life and death".
Mr Brandet told French TV channel BFMTV: "The two hostage-takers came out of the church armed and it was at that point that they were neutralised by the police."
The attack is the latest in a string of deadly assaults in Europe, including the mass killing in Nice on Bastille Day and four incidents in Germany. Many of the attacks have had links to Islamist militants.
The Archbishop of Rouen identified the slain priest as Father Jacques Hamel. The Vatican condemned what it said was a "barbarous killing."
May His Soul Rest in Peace
Haya! May his soul rest in peace. What a huge loss
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