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Image: A policeman secures the position in front of the city hall after two assailants had taken five people hostage in the church at Saint-Etienne-du -Rouvray near Rouen in Normandy

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Grisly Church Killing Shakes France

A priest was "assassinated" at a church in France early Tuesday when two knife-wielding attackers took both nuns and worshipers hostage.

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French police officers stand guard in front of the Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray's city hall, Normandy, France, after an attack on a church that left a priest dead, Tuesday, July 26, 2016.

Two attackers armed with knives invaded a church Tuesday during morning Mass near the Normandy city of Rouen, killing an 84-year-old priest by slitting his throat and taking hostages before being shot and killed by police, French officials said.

—Francois Mori / AP
Image: FRANCE-ATTACK-CHURCH-HOSTAGE

French police officers and fire engine arrive at the scene of a hostage-taking at the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray.

The siege ended when the hostage-takers were "neutralized" at the church in the town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, police said. Another hostage was critically injured.

—CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP - Getty Images
Image: A policeman secures the position in front of the city hall after two assailants had taken five people hostage in the church at Saint-Etienne-du -Rouvray near Rouen in Normandy

A policeman reacts as he secures a position in front of the city hall.

 The victim was named by Archbishop of Rouen Dominique Lebrun as Rev. Jacques Hamel, 86.

—Pascal Rossignol / Reuters
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French soldiers and a police officer stand guard as they prevent the access to the scene of an attack in Saint Etienne du Rouvray.

—Francois Mori / AP
Image: FRANCE-ATTACK-CHURCH-HOSTAGE

A French police officer stands guard by Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray's city hall.

—CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP - Getty Images
Image: A policeman holds a HKG36 assault rifle as he secures the position in front of the city hall after two assailants had taken five people hostage in the church at Saint-Etienne-du -Rouvray near Rouen in Normandy

A policeman holds a HKG36 assault rifle as he secures the position in front of the city hall.

—PASCAL ROSSIGNOL / Reuters
Image: FRANCE-ATTACK-CHURCH-HOSTAGE

French President Francois Hollande, left, holds and speaks with Hubert Wulfranc mayor of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray as he arrives in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray.

Hollande blamed the "cowardly acts" on ISIS-linked terrorists.

—BORIS MASLARD / AFP - Getty Images
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A French soldiers stands guard as he prevents the access to the scene of an attack.

—Francois Mori / AP
Image: Members of French special police forces of Research and Intervention Brigade (BRI) are seen at the scene during a raid after a hostage-taking in the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

Members of French special police forces of Research and Intervention Brigade (BRI) are at the scene during a raid after a hostage-taking in the church.

—PASCAL ROSSIGNOL / Reuters
Image: FRANCE-ATTACK-CHURCH

A French policeman arrests a man following a search in a house after the church terror attack.

—CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP - Getty Images
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