France Church Attack: Priest Dies After Two Knife-Wielding Men Take Congregation Hostage [VIDEO]
An otherwise peaceful Mass in Normandy, France, eventually turned into a scene of chaos, as two knife-wielding men stormed the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, taking a priest, two nuns and several members of the congregation hostage. By the time authorities were able to neutralize the attackers, the 92-year-old priest was dead and another one of the hostages was in critical condition.
The attack happened around 9 a.m. on Tuesday, as the members of the Catholic church were having Mass. The hostage situation lasted for an hour before the two armed men were eventually shot by police as they exited through a courtyard outside the place of worship.
Unfortunately, the deadly incident claimed the life of the church's 92-year-old priest, who had been serving in the area for the last few decades. The attackers had allegedly slit the old priest's throat during the course of the hostage-taking.
Eulalie Garcia, a woman who works in a local beauty parlor near the church, stated that she had known the priest, whose name has not been disclosed as of writing, since she was a child.
"My family has lived here for 35 years and we have always known him. He was someone who was treasured by the community. He was very discreet and didn't like to draw attention to himself," she said.
A second hostage, whose name has also not been disclosed, is currently in critical condition. Three other hostages were able to be freed without any injuries.
A full-scale investigation has been launched by France, with the possibility of the attack being terror-related being explored. The church is also currently being combed by authorities due to bombs and other explosives possibly planted by the hostage-takers during their siege.
President Francois Hollande and Bernard Cazeneuve, the French interior minister, are scheduled to visit the scene of the church attack later during the day.
