Priest slain in suspected French terror attack

A French priest was killed and another person seriously wounded after two attackers took hostages inside a church in northern France this morning.

A police source say the priest’s throat was slit by the attackers who stormed the church during morning Mass. Both attackers were later killed by French police.

The Vatican has condemned the “barbarous killing” that took place inside the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, near Rouen in Normandy.

The identity of the assailants is unknown as of yet, but the investigation has been handed to the anti-terrorist unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office. Police sources have said one of the men was wearing clothing signifying that he was a Muslim but there had been no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack from terror groups. French President Francois Hollande, who was on his way to the site of the attack, has suggested that the Islamic State is behind the attack.

Europe, and France in particular, has been struck by a string of deadly attacks, including the slaughter of 84 people less than two weeks ago when a man drove a truck into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day. A number of incidents in Germany have also resulted in death and injuries, including a shooting in Munich July 23 where nine people were killed before the shooter killed himself.