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| Hostage takers kill at least 1 at French church, priest's throat reportedly slit | Hostage takers kill at least 1 at French church, priest's throat reportedly slit |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A priest has been killed during a hostage situation at a church in northern France, according to a police source. The two attackers slit his throat, police sources told Reuters. | A priest has been killed during a hostage situation at a church in northern France, according to a police source. The two attackers slit his throat, police sources told Reuters. |
| Both attackers were killed by police snipers after running out of the church at one point during the standoff, an interior ministry spokesman said. | Both attackers were killed by police snipers after running out of the church at one point during the standoff, an interior ministry spokesman said. |
| Police have also officially confirmed the death of one victim, who was "killed with a blade." | |
| In an official statement, France's President Hollande called the attack a "terrorist act," and said the attackers claimed a connection to IS. He added that France needs to battle against IS "by all means," Reuters reported. | |
| Police earlier said they could not confirm the motive or the identities of the attackers. | |
| The attackers briefly held a total of five people. One of the hostages was seriously wounded, interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said. | The attackers briefly held a total of five people. One of the hostages was seriously wounded, interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said. |
| SWAT and anti-terrorist units, as well as firefighters, promptly arrived at the scene. The premises are now being searched for explosives, Brandet said. | SWAT and anti-terrorist units, as well as firefighters, promptly arrived at the scene. The premises are now being searched for explosives, Brandet said. |
| The Paris anti-terrorist prosecutor is launching an investigation into the church attack and hostage-taking situation. | The Paris anti-terrorist prosecutor is launching an investigation into the church attack and hostage-taking situation. |
| "Don't break the security perimeter to take photos/videos, you're interfering with the police work," local police warned on Twitter. | "Don't break the security perimeter to take photos/videos, you're interfering with the police work," local police warned on Twitter. |
| Local media say that a female worshipper alerted the police. | Local media say that a female worshipper alerted the police. |
| The Vatican has condemned the "barbaric killing" of the priest in the attack. | The Vatican has condemned the "barbaric killing" of the priest in the attack. |
| "We are particularly shocked because this horrible violence took place in a church, in which God's love is announced," Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said, according to Reuters. | "We are particularly shocked because this horrible violence took place in a church, in which God's love is announced," Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said, according to Reuters. |
| Father Jacques Hamel, who was killed in the attack, was 84 years old. He had served as a priest for 58 of those years. | |
| French President Francois Hollande and Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve arrived at the site of the attack. | French President Francois Hollande and Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve arrived at the site of the attack. |