Two attackers claiming to be from Islamic State raided a church during mass and cut Fr Jacques Hamel’s throat. Four people were also taken hostage before police shot two of the hostage takers.
The French media has named one of them Adel K. He is believed to be 18 and it is thought he attempted to enter Syria twice in the past but was turned back at the Turkish border.
Sister Danielle, a nun who was present at the church during the attack said “they forced [Fr Hamel] to his knees. He wanted to defend himself, and that’s when the tragedy happened.
“They recorded themselves. They did a sort of sermon around the altar, in Arabic. It’s a horror”.
As they prepared to kill Fr Hamel, she escaped.
Police units specialised in hostage-taking surrounded the church. French President Francois Hollande stated the attackers claimed to be related to IS before being shot by police.
As of now, one of the hostages is in critical condition in hospital. The other three were freed without injury.
According to a local Muslim leader, Mohammed Karabila, Adel K had been “followed by police for at least a year and a half.”
