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2nd LD: French president calls church attack "heinous terrorist act"

Xinhua, July 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

French President Francois Hollande on Tuesday condemned the "heinous terrorist attack" targeting a church in northern France in which a priest was killed and a second one remains in critical condition.

Hollande, who rushed to the attack scene, added the two assailants claimed links with the Islamic State (IS).

"The threat is very high. We are facing the group of Daesh, who declared war on us. We have to battle them with all means," he said.

Hollande also called for unity as "what these terrorists want is to divide us."

A priest in a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray was killed by two hostage takers who were shot dead by police units.

IS claimed responsibility for the attack, the second one targeting France in several days, according to a report by Le Figaro newspaper. Endite