Hollande vows to fight IS after priest murder

FRENCH president Francois Hollande has pledged to fight the Islamic State terror group “using all means possible” after an attack on a church in Normandy resulted in the murder of an 84-year-old priest.

Father Jacques Hamel was reported to have been beheaded during an hour-long hostage-taking incident.

It began when two knifemen burst into the parish church by a back door during morning mass.

The church, in SaintEtienne-du-Rouvray, near Rouen, was swiftly surrounded by anti-terror police.

The hostage-takers were shot dead as they emerged into the courtyard outside.

Witnesses said the men shouted “Allahu Akbar” as they came out of the building.

One was described as bearded and wearing a Muslim skullcap.

One member of the congregation of four – who included two nuns – was rushed to hospital “between life and death” suffering from serious injuries.