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ISIS Attack on French Priest a New Strategy against the West?

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Religious and political leaders around the world are condemning an ISIS attack on a French priest celebrating mass in church. It's the first time the terror group has targeted a church in the West.

"To attack a church, to kill a priest, is to profane the republic," French President Francois Hollande told the country after speaking with Pope Francis, who also strongly condemned the killing.

Two followers of ISIS entered the Catholic church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray Tuesday morning where Rev. Jacques Hamel was celebrating Mass for three nuns and two parishioners. Witnesses say they forced the 85-year-old priest to his knees and slit his throat.

A nun who escaped described watching the attackers give a sermon in Arabic around the altar. Police later shot and killed the two as they rushed out of the church shouting "allahu akbar." 

Authorities say one had three knives and a fake explosive belt while the other carried fake explosives in his backpack.

Authorities have identified one attacker as 19-year-old Adel Kermiche. He grew up in the town but recently was under house arrest for preliminary terrorism charges.

He tried to travel to Syria twice last year using family members' identity documents but authorities arrested him outside of France.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz condemned the attack Tuesday.

"France and the United States share a commitment to protecting religious liberty for those of all faiths and today's violence will not shake that commitment," he said.

The United States promised it's ready to help France with the investigation going forward.

Meanwhile in Britain, police say jihadists could target them next. They've increased security at the country's 47,000 churches.

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About The Author

Heather
Sells

Heather Sells covers wide-ranging stories for CBN News that include religious liberty, ministry trends, immigration, and education. She’s known for telling personal stories that capture the issues of the day, from the border sheriff who rescues migrants in the desert to the parents struggling with a child that identifies as transgender. In the last year, she has reported on immigration at the Texas border, from Washington, D.C., in advance of the Dobbs abortion case, at crisis pregnancy centers in Massachusetts, and on sexual abuse reform at the annual Southern Baptist meeting in Anaheim