France church attack: Priest killed in hostage-taking near Rouen
A priest has been killed in an attack by two armed men at his church near Rouen in northern France, police and French media have said, BBC reports. According to the source, the armed men entered the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray during Mass, taking the priest, Fr Jacques Hamel, 84, and four other people hostage.
French TV said shots had been heard after police arrived at the scene. Both hostage-takers are now dead.
Pope Francis decried the “pain and horror of this absurd violence”.
French interior ministry spokesman, Pierre-Henri Brandet, said one of the hostages had been critically wounded.
He said the hostage-takers had been “neutralised” after coming out of the church. Police were now searching the church for explosives.
The area has been cordoned off and police have told people to stay away.