French priest killed by attackers 'claiming allegiance to IS'


Paris, Jul 26 (AFP) : French President Francois Hollande said two assailants who stormed a Normandy church and slit the throat of an elderly Catholic priest on Tuesday had claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group.

The hostage drama in the Normandy town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray further stunned a nation already shaken to its core after a massacre in the French Riviera city of Nice less than two weeks ago, which was claimed by IS.

Hollande condemned the "cowardly murder of the parish priest by two terrorists claiming to be from Daesh", using an Arabic term for the Islamic State group.

Hollande appealed for "unity" in France, where political blame trading has poisoned the aftermath of the truck attack, the third major strike in the country in 18 months.

"The threat remains very high," said Hollande.

The Paris prosecutor's office said the case was being handled by anti-terrorism prosecutors.

The two attackers stormed the church during morning mass, taking the five people inside hostage, including the priest, interior ministry spokesman Pierre Henry Brandet said.

He said the church was surrounded by France's anti-gang brigade the BRI, which specialises in kidnappings, and that "the two assailants came out and were killed by police".

The priest died after his throat was slit, sources close to the investigation told AFP. The archbishop of the nearby city of Rouen, Dominique Lebrun, named him as 84-year-old Jacques Hamel.

However the archbishopric's website states he was born in 1930.

Three of the hostages were freed unharmed, and another was fighting for their life, said Brandet.

Pope Francis voiced his "pain and horror" at the "barbaric killing" of the priest.

France remains on high alert after Tunisian Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel ploughed a truck into a crowd of people celebrating Bastille Day in Nice on July 14, killing 84 people and injuring over 300.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls expressed his horror at what he called "a barbaric attack on a church".

"The whole of France and all Catholics are wounded. We will stand together," he wrote on Twitter.

Lebrun urged all non-believers to join those of the church in "calling to God".

"The Catholic Church can take up no other weapons than prayer and fraternity between men," he said in a statement.

France has been a prime target of the Islamic State group, which regularly calls for supporters to launch attacks against the country.

France is involved in carrying out air strikes against the jihadists in Iraq and Syria.

Attacks in Belgium in March, and in Germany this week, have also increased jitters across Europe.

After Nice, France extended a state of emergency giving police extra powers to carry out searches and place people under house arrest for another six months until January.

It was the fourth time the security measures have been extended since IS jihadists struck Paris in November, killing 130 people in a wave of bombings and shootings at restaurants, a concert hall and the national stadium.

Valls had warned earlier this week that the country will face more attacks as it struggles to handle extremists returning from jihad in the Middle East and those radicalised at home by devouring propaganda on the internet.

France has been concerned about the threat against churches ever since Sid Ahmed Ghlam, a 24-year-old Algerian IT student, was arrested in Paris in April last year on suspicion of killing a woman who was found shot dead in the passenger seat of her car, and of planning an attack on a church.

Prosecutors say they found documents about Al-Qaeda and IS at his home, and that he had been in touch with a suspected jihadist in Syria about an attack on a church.

As part of beefed up security operations in France, some 700 schools and Jewish synagogues and 1,000 mosques are under military protection.

However with some 45,000 Catholic churches, and thousands more Protestant and evangelical churches, protecting all places of worship is a massive headache for security services.

The Nice massacre triggered a bitter political spat over alleged security failings, with the government accused of not doing enough to protect the population.

French far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen wrote on Twitter that the "modus operandi obviously makes us fear a new attack from terrorist Islamists."

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • Jossey Saldanha, Nashville

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    Why only Christian Priests ...

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sathish Shetty, Mangalore

    Fri, Jul 29 2016

    We are all children of God and eventually all of us have to go GHAR WAPAS to our Almighty ...
    Is it relevant answer? 30 persons agreed on jan 6 2015

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • DBS, Udupi

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    Agree with Amigo, Hemanth, Alwyn, Prabhu comments.

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ullas, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    Comments are very limited. Our Local intellectuals are also not speaking. No more outrage..Its really interesting

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Peter Lewis, Kalmady/k s a

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    European Countries themselves responsible to this headache. Millions of Northern part of Africa and Middle east Countries Nationals posses dual Citizenship.

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • S.F.H, Indian

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    WORLD LEADERS OF SUPER POWERS NEED TO THINK SERIOUSLY TO HOW TO GET RID OF THIS DAESH!!IF THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • No Nonsense, Udupi

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    There is no easy way to solve this. Instead of targetting the "head of the snake" world leaders are busy wasting time and resources killing foot soldiers.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sadi, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    Patch work by terror. Since social network stormed that ISIS attacking only Muslim countries and killing Muslims.
    The same ISIS campaigning for Donald trump by their killing and attacking skills at US soil.

    DisAgree [13] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • mohan, mangalore

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    The wrong policy they adopted to give shelter and food and medical for the refugees.. These people burdon on earth. instead of giving shelter they should have dumped them onto the sea.
    Now togather with refugee number of ISISI people living togather with them. and they spread everywhere.
    Now European countries must thing to keep them or send them back to their country.
    Its better to dump them all into the sea.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [31] Reply Report Abuse

  • No Nonsense, Udupi

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    If this is your suggestion, then how are we different from them. You are suggesting the same barbaric ways which they follow.

    DisAgree [13] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Thu, Jul 28 2016

    @Mohan Mangalore,in the first place it pains me to hear what on this earth happens day by day.but it pains me more to read what you wrote,and your thoughts.do you mean it really.Is it written on everybodys forehead what is their Intention in future?are there not really needy People?cant you imagine what These People refugees are undergoing ,when they shoot their own husband,children .parents in front of their eyes,or rape them?Everyone who have children certainly wants to rescue their ownones and hope for a better life for them.I find there is no difference between These Terrorist and you as you expressed here.very sad.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Thu, Jul 28 2016

    I just cant understand why many People piont out that because Europe gave Asyl to many People and thats how terrorists could easily attack or bomb.When terrosts want to do their work,they come in also without Problem.They know the ways,but this is a easy way ,thats all.How did first time in America terrorists attacked with planes ?He was a Student there just like any other.Noone had thought he would do such work.so stop blaming the Asyl politics.Black sheeps are everywhere.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • sid, mangalore

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    People from India who have gone to join this group will get |Bahgya scheme when they return .. thats the sad thing here in india

    DisAgree [12] Agree [29] Reply Report Abuse

  • SK, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    Is this Bhagya scheme implemented all over India ?????.....

    DisAgree [4] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • sid, mangalore

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    yes is being implemented all over india under different names and if a culprit is caught it becomes atrocity against minority

    DisAgree [7] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • SK, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    If it is all over india, then what this 56" chest of FEKU is doing.....Sleeping in the office for 36 hours....

    DisAgree [4] Agree [8] Report Abuse

  • KRPrabhu, Kudla/Bengaluru

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    In this forum I noticed many elements by their write ups prefer ISIS elements over RSS,BD,VHP and allied org.When attrocities happen on their counterparts in other part of the globe,they start abusing them and preaching 'Vedantha'.....!I am amused..!
    Silver line of their comments is stress gets released providing temp soothing to heart soul and mind..!
    Death of Dysp Ganapathi and comments followed thereon are worth noting...!

    DisAgree [10] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • SK, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    Why are we talking about only one police officer always ?????? what about the other police officer ????? Is he not a human being ????

    DisAgree [12] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • David Pais, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    @KRPrabhu, Kudla/Bengaluru
    self committing suicide is self crime. ganapati suicide is a cowardly act.guilt of church attacks followed him.

    DisAgree [11] Agree [34] Reply Report Abuse

  • moshu, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    it is the tragic byproduct of a criminal policy of aggressive wars and regime change interventions pursued uninterruptedly by US imperialism, with the aid and complicity of its Western European allies, over the course of nearly a quarter century.

    DisAgree [28] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • MICHAEL NORONHA, Mysore

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    Killing a Catholic Priest during Holy Mass is a barbaric and inhuman act. France was very generous in opening its doors to the refugees. The killing is not the manner to express gratitude for French people's generosity. May Fr Jacques Hamel's soul rest in Peace.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [44] Reply Report Abuse

  • Zeitgeist , Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    All countries should make their policy that those who want to go and join IS or whatever, they can freely do it. Then the countries should have their citizenship revoked so that they cannot come back. I dont know what is the point of making some people stay against their wishes.

    DisAgree Agree [29] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vikas G, Udupi

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    Because some people, do not wish to join them, but only sympathies with them and justify their act so that they can Blame it on Israel & USA. (..otherwise, why is that Knife used by them always purchased in Israeli Store !!!)

    DisAgree [4] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • SK, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    Any one stopping USA/Israel to bomb ISIS hide outs ?????..... NO, they will not do it, bcoz, it is their illegitimate child... where there is a will, there is a way ....Maunam sammati lakshnam...

    DisAgree [21] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Nithya, mlr

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    Governments there more interested in oil money for which they want to be in good terms with OIC which in turn supports radicals. So now what?

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • PEDDU, MANGALURU

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    THESE GUYS FROM STONE-AGE AND ALL OF SUDDENLY APPEAR IN FRONT OF EUROPE !

    DisAgree [1] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • Zeitgeist , Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    PEDDU,

    You are right. All cultures are not same. Democracy is not compatible with some cultures.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • hemanth, bangalore

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    Even India should think and act about Illegal Bangladesh migrants. Else days are not far...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [39] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent Rodrigues., Frazer Town,Bangalore

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    Islamic groups are enhancing their militant activities and even killing the innocent people which is really condemnable and all the Muslim countries need to join and take corrective steps to stop these militant activities from all these Islamic groups.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [47] Reply Report Abuse

  • Valerian D'souza, Udupi / Mumbai

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    Un-abated terrorist attacks all over may agitate citizens, make them militants and create riots culture, where there was peace.
    People there are not prepared or capable of dealing with terrorists.
    They are solely dependents on Police and Military.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • Alwyn, Canadian

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    Shame of those who kills in the name of god.europe should stop helping all those refugees enter like a rats in Europe and then grow like a lion.There is no place in such devils in any society to live. This evil has spearheaded like a virus every Corner which harms the peace loving safe society and human life. Shame on you devils. If you don't find anyone to kill the you people kill within your own community

    DisAgree [1] Agree [53] Reply Report Abuse

  • moshu, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    Alwyn
    the act is indeed shameful. But there are many things to be reckoned. I have read in the news that ISSI attacks bcoz they wants them to stop bombing its positions in syria and iraq. They also attack recently in saudi arabia's holy city aswell. No muslim will ever do such heinous act which is sacred for all muslim. They targeted prophet sws mosque!!!. Its just a political game not the reality projected to us.

    DisAgree [32] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    It is so sad ,that to hear such terrific Actions from some People who believe they are the only believers.we condemn this,by killing a other religious People no God will be pleased.Killing itself is a heinous act.Let us all get together and pray for the Soul of deceased innocent priest ,and other Terror opfer who left this world and to the ones who may get enlightened and beg mercy .Thats all we can do at the Moment.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse

  • Alwyn, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    God our Father,
    Your power brings us to birth,
    Your providence guides our lives,
    and by Your command we return to dust.

    Lord, those who die still live in Your presence,
    their lives change but do not end.
    I pray in hope for French Priest his family,
    relatives and friends,
    and for all the dead known to You alone.

    In company with Christ,
    Who died and now lives,
    may they rejoice in Your kingdom,
    where all our tears are wiped away.
    Unite us together again in one family,
    to sing Your praise forever and ever.

    Amen.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [49] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vikas, Udupi

    Wed, Jul 27 2016

    I already told you not to tag religion to this rare incident. France should seriously think about its knives laws. Not all knives communal or radical.

    DisAgree [26] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • Valerian D'souza, Udupi / Mumbai

    Tue, Jul 26 2016

    Asylum given to these people become invitation to death knell.
    To reverse, effected countries should find each of them and deport where they belong.
    sooner they do this will save innocent lives.
    Contrast ideologies can't live together! Soft laws not suitable to all.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [41] Reply Report Abuse

  • Amigo , Mangalore

    Tue, Jul 26 2016

    People of France until and unless you wipe out your own neighborhood with CLUSTER bombs this disease will never get Cured. Stop bombing Iraq and Syria and start bombing your own neighborhood if you want to live in peace and safety.

    DisAgree [19] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: French priest killed by attackers 'claiming allegiance to IS'



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