Priest killed outside of Rouen, France

[The Viking]

Breaking.

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Not many details as of yet, but a priest has been killed after being "slashed across the throat" during Mass in Normandy, France this morning.

Congregation witnessed the hostage situation and one other member is alleged to be in critical condition.

Two knife men have been killed by French armed police.

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Anti Terrorism Prosecutor is investigating.

[abaris]

Seems like the world has gone mad these days. Never in my living memory we had such an amount of violent incidents in so short a period of time.

[The Viking]

Its absolutely shocking isn't it? The tempo and frequency is now baffling

[chimp3]

Politics, jealousy, and religion. To name three things that enable people the privilege to kill each other. Doubt makes us better people.

[The Viking]

This could begin to provoke some dangerous reactions, by early reports. A lot of angry sentiment being expressed...

In which case, these bastards would win.

They aim to divide; they aim to drive opposition; they want suspicion, alienation and hatred to breed.

[abaris]

If this is indeed another islamist attack, my pet theory is that they want the French Nationalists to take over. That would be ruinous for the EU, and by proxy ruinous to present a united front against what they are doing in the middle east.

[The Viking]

Right wing sympathies are now on the increase in the UK, France and Germany.

Not to mention some swings in Austria, Netherlands and Hungary of late...

It's certainly working.

[abaris]

Not to mention some swings in Austria, Netherlands and Hungary of late...

It's certainly working.

Tell me about it. I have the Austrian situation right at my doorstep. Hungary already has fallen, Germany not so much. The rightwingers there are at each others throats. Also, Germany has obviously one of the most mature populations when it comes to democracy. Outside of certain disenfranchised regions in the East, the rightwingers don't have much clout.

[chimp3]

ISIS does preach some end times nonsense that involves armies from the north attacking Muslim territory as a precursor to the caliph or some such dribble. Seems like they are trying to hasten those dark days.

[The Viking]

Pretty much confirmed by various sources that this was a "religiously motivated" attack by ISIS members/associates.

Known links to Syria/Turkey according to local Muslim leaders.

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36892785

A priest has been killed in an attack by two armed men at his church in a suburb of Rouen in northern France.

The attackers entered the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray during Mass, taking the priest, Fr Jacques Hamel, 84, and four other people hostage.

Police later surrounded the church and French TV said shots were fired. Both hostage-takers are now dead.

President Francois Hollande said the men claimed to be from so-called Islamic State (IS).

Speaking in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, he said the attackers had committed a "cowardly assassination" and France would fight IS "by all means".

The IS-linked Amaq news agency said "two soldiers of the Islamic State" had carried out the attack.

Pope Francis decried the "pain and horror of this absurd violence".

French interior ministry spokesman, Pierre-Henri Brandet, said one of the hostages had been critically wounded.

He said the hostage-takers had been "neutralised" after coming out of the church. Police were now searching the church for explosives.
'Treasured' priest

Police sources said it appeared the attackers had slit the priest's throat with a knife.

The area has been cordoned off and police have told people to stay away.

Mr Brandet said the investigation into the incident would be led by anti-terrorism prosecutors.

One of the men was known to the French intelligence services, French TV channel M6 has reported.

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French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has expressed his horror at the "barbaric attack".

"The whole of France and all Catholics are wounded. We will stand together," he wrote on Twitter.

The Archbishop of Rouen, Dominique Lebrun, who was attending a Catholic gathering in Poland, said: "I cry out to God with all men of goodwill. I would invite non-believers to join in the cry.

"The Catholic Church cannot take weapons other than those of prayer and brotherhood among men."