Priest, 84, was killed by two 'Islamic knifemen' after taking nuns and worshippers hostage at French church

An 86-year-old priest has been killed by two 'Islamic' knifemen who cut his throat after bursting into a French church and taking nuns and worshippers hostage before being shot dead by police, Daily Mail reports. 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, named as Jacques Hamel, 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.

The clergyman, ordained in 1958, had his throat cut, said a spokesman for the Interior Ministry in Paris.

The spokesman said the two men rushed into the church via a back entrance during a morning service, soon after 9am.

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.

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.- Daily Mail