Priest killed after police shoot ‘Muslim’ knifemen who took hostages in Normandy church

Two knifemen have been shot dead after taking a priest, two nuns and several worshippers hostage in a church in northern France.

One of the hostages, believed to be the priest, is reported to have been killed during the incident in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, south of Rouen, in Normandy.

Reports suggested that the priest died from a slashed throat, while one of the members of the congregation was seriously injured.

Newspaper Le Figaro quoted police sources as saying that at least one of the two hostage-takers had a beard and was wearing a “chachia” skullcap of the kind worn by some Muslims.

The police operation was completed by 11am French time (10am UK time). Officers from the elite anti-terrorist Raid squad were called in to assist local police.

The area around the church remained cordoned off and the old town was out of bounds.

French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve was reported to be on his way to the scene.

President Francois Hollande was also said to be travelling to the scene.

Local reports quoted police sources as saying that “at least” one of the hostages had been killed.

The hostage-takers entered the church armed with knives shortly before 10am local time (9am UK time), said French media sources.

A number of shots were heard over a period of around 15 seconds as the incident came to an end.

Saint Etienne du Rouvray is just south of the town of Rouen, and about 15 miles inland from the port of Le Havre and the picturesque tourist towns of Honfleur and Deauville.