Normandy attack: Murdered priest was 'treasured' by the community for nearly 60 years

Father Jacques Hamel was killed in the brutal attack

Father Jacques Hamel was brutally killed by the attackers who stormed the Catholic church in Sainte Etienne du Rouvray in Rouen, Normandy on Tuesday morning.

The 86-year-old was holding mass with his congregation at 10am local time (9am BST) when two men stormed the church.

Unconfirmed reports said the elderly priest had his throat slit by the armed men.

Another person is fighting for their life and others managed to escape with minor injuries.

The two attackers were shot dead by police as they emerged from the church, shouting "Allahu Akbar" - God is Great in Arabic - on the steps of the building .

A number of shots were heard over a period of around 15 seconds as the incident came to an end.

Five people were held by the attackers, including the pastor, two nuns and several worshippers.

Father Jacques Hamel, 84, was murdered in in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

ather Jacques Hamel had headed up the church in Sainte Etienne du Rouvray

The alarm was first raised by a third nun who escaped from at the church, located on the outskirts of the city of Rouen.

Father Hamel was born in 1930 in the nearby town of Darnétal and was ordained in 1958, aged 28.

He was an “auxiliary priest” for the parish of Saint Etienne du Rouvray and was due to celebrate 60 years with the Catholic Church in 2018.

The Diocese of Rouen’s website revealed he celebrated his Golden Jubilee - or 50 years - in 2008.

Father Hamel was said to be a “quiet” pillar of the community he had served for so many years.

Eulalie Garcia, who works near the church, said: “He was someone who was treasured by the community. He was very discreet and didn't like to draw attention to himself."

Catholics around the world are mourning the direct attack on their religion following a week of terror in France and Germany.

Eulalie Garcia, who works near the church, said: “He was someone who was treasured by the community. He was very discreet and didn't like to draw attention to himself."

A spokesperson for the Vatican condemned the incident as a "barbarous killing". 

The Pope has spoken of his "pain and horror".

The Vatican said in a statement: "We are particularly struck because this horrible violence has occurred in a church - a sacred place where we pronounce God's love - with the barbaric murder of a priest and worshippers affected."

And Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, urged people to “pray for France.

He wrote on Twitter: “Evil attacks the weakest, denies truth & love, is defeated through Jesus Christ. Pray for France, for victims, for their communities.”