Two Knifemen Take Several Hostages in French Church before Being Killed

Local Editor

At least three people were killed after two knife-wielding men took a number of people hostage at a church in northern France, police said.

According to police sources, between four and six people were held by the assailants at the church in the Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray town of France's northern Normandy region on Tuesday.

The slain hostage was reported to be a priest.

The two men were later "neutralized," said the French Interior Ministry.

Reports further mentioned that Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve was on his way to the scene.

The incident came as France is still reeling from the Bastille Day massacre that claimed 84 lives in the city of Nice earlier this month.

A state of emergency has been in place in the country since last November, when assailants struck at least six different venues in and around the capital, Paris, leaving 130 people dead and over 350 others injured.

Both of the attacks in Nice and Paris were claimed by Daesh [the Arabic acronym for the terrorist "ISIS" group.]

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team