French church attack: Priest beheaded, hostage takers shot dead by police

[MikeWB]

A priest has been killed during a hostage situation at a church in northern France, according to a police source. The two attackers slit his throat, police sources told Reuters.

Both attackers have been killed by police, an interior ministry spokesman confirmed to Reuters. The Paris anti-terrorist prosecutor is launching an investigation into the church attack and hostage-taking situation, the spokesman added.

LIVE FEED from hostage scene in Rouvray, France

According to Le Point, one of the worshippers has also been killed. Police have so far only officially confirmed the death the priest, who was "killed with a blade."

    #NORMANDY#FRANCE#SaintEtienneDuRouvray Police: the church's priest was murdered. #PIC of casualty being taken out. pic.twitter.com/fPFecUiyDh
    — John Sjoholm (@JohnSjoholmLC) July 26, 2016

Le Point also reports that the attackers shouted "Daesh" (the Arabic acronym for the terrorist group Islamic State) as they broke into the church. This has not been officially confirmed.

    Horreur face à l'attaque barbare d'une église de Seine-Maritime. La France entière et tous les catholiques sont meurtris. Nous ferons bloc.
    — Manuel Valls (@manuelvalls) July 26, 2016

The attackers briefly held a total of five people. One of the hostages was seriously wounded, a spokesman for the interior ministry said.

    Nombreux tirs entendus sur places prise otage saint etienne du Rouvray pic.twitter.com/FsqAKAaj2C
    — frederic veille (@fredveille) July 26, 2016

SWAT and anti-terrorist units, as well as firefighters, promptly arrived at the scene.

    Prise d'otages en cours place de l'église à Saint-Étienne-du-rouvray, près de #Rouenpic.twitter.com/x0EGDYW3em
    — Alice (@AlicePatalacci) July 26, 2016

"Don't break the security perimeter to take photos/videos, you're interfering with the police work," local police warned on Twitter.

    [#SaintEtienneDuRouvray] Ne franchissez pas le périmètre de sécurité pr prendre des photos/vidéos, vous perturbez le travail des policiers.
    — Police Nationale (@PoliceNationale) July 26, 2016

Local media say that a female worshipper alerted the police.

    Prise d'otages dans une église de Saint Etienne du Rouvray ! Police GIPN et militaires mission vigipirate sur place pic.twitter.com/Wz1zbwHK5F
    — frederic veille (@fredveille) July 26, 2016

French President Francois Hollande is on his way to the site of the attack, according to an official statement from Elysee Palace. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve is also headed to the scene of the hostage-taking, the ministry said.

https://www.rt.com/news/353311-france-hostage-church-rouvray/

[Christopher Marlowe]

Hoax IMHO.