Absolutely horrifying news out of France. From BBC -

 

An 84-year-old priest was killed and four other people taken hostage by two armed men who stormed his church in a suburb of Rouen in northern France.

The two attackers, who said they were from the so-called Islamic State (IS), slit Fr Jacques Hamel's throat during a morning Mass, officials say.

 

Police later surrounded the church, in St-Etienne-du-Rouvray, and shot dead both hostage-takers.

One of the hostages is in a critical condition in hospital.

 

 

The attack happened during morning Mass at the historic church, situated in a quiet square of St-Etienne-du-Rouvray.

 

A nun, who identified herself as Sister Danielle, said she was in the church at the time.

"They forced [Fr Hamel]to his knees. He wanted to defend himself, and that's when the tragedy happened," she told French media.

"They recorded themselves. They did a sort of sermon around the altar, in Arabic. It's a horror".

She said she managed to flee as they were preparing to kill him.

Elite police units, specialised in hostage-taking, surrounded the church.

President Hollande said the attackers claimed to be from the self-styled IS before they were killed by police as they came out of the church.

Three of the hostages were freed unharmed, but one remains in a critical condition, said French interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henri Brandet.

 

So many things going through my head hearing about this. The Catholic mass is supposed to be a sacred space of peace, and for it to be desecrated, and for someone to be brutally murdered during it is absolutely devastating.

It seems we get one of these killings every 3 days now, and what a horrible way for an 84-year old man to have his life ended :(

God what a Horrible tragedy, makes my blood boil l :angry: My thoughts are with his family and loved ones :(

I really want to visit France but I'm not so sure now. Absolutely shocking. What a f***ed up world.

I really want to visit France but I'm not so sure now. Absolutely shocking. What a f***ed up world.

Same, these stories are so depressing to read.

Saint Etienne du Rouvray is about 69 km (or 43 miles) from where I live.

 

When we were discussing the 13 November attacks we'd said that the terrorists would only scare us if they attacked smaller towns (at the time we thought "Don't go to Paris and you'll be fine"). Whereas Saint Etienne du Rouvray has around 18,000 inhabitants. Which means the previously safe people from rural areas (such as myself) are starting to feel in danger.

Let's see Sky News' report into how the attack on the church could affect things at my place of worship. I'm sure they'll treat the issue with the dignity it deserv....

 

 

Oh, **** off.

Oh my goodness, what f***ing ignorance.