Hollande slams priest murderers

Hollande slams priest murderers

PARIS: French President Francois Hollande last night blasted the "cowards" who killed an elderly priest during a siege at a church yesterday.

Priest Jacques Hamel, 84, was killed by one of two men who entered the church in St-Etienne-du-Rouvray during Mass and seized worshippers as hostages.

Police said the motivation for the hostage-taking were not yet clear, but Mr Hollande said the suspects claimed to be acting in the name of the Islamic State (IS) terror group.

Speaking after arriving in St-Etienne alongside Interior Minister Bernard Caseneuve, Mr Hollande said the attackers had committed a "cowardly assassination" and vowed France would fight IS "by all means".

Another hostage was injured and remained "between life and death" in hospital last night, the Interior Ministry said.

The Paris prosecutor's office said the case had been handed to anti-terrorism judges for investigation.

Pope Francis meanwhile expressed his horror at the "barbaric killing" of the priest.

"The pope ... shares the pain and horror of this absurd violence," Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said.

The attack had created "immense pain and worry", he added.

Pope Francis issued "the most severe condemnation of all forms of hatred" and said he was appalled "because this horrific violence took place in a church, a sacred place" and involved the "barbaric" killing of a priest.

The online edition of Le Figaro newspaper reported that the attackers cut Father Hamel's throat, citing police sources.

The police said they "neutralised" the assailants as they ended the standoff yesterday morning. AGENCIES

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