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Live updates: Church attacker urges all Muslims to destroy France in new video

  • France is in shock after two Islamic State followers slit the throat of an elderly priest
  • The attackers stormed a Normandy church and took hostages before they were killed by police
  • The men apparently forced Father Jacques Hamel to kneel before killing him and filming it
  • Adel Kermiche, 19, has been named as one of the attackers
  • Kermiche was on probation and had twice attempted to travel to Syria
  • The other has been identified as 19 year old Abdel-Malik Nabil Petitjean
  • IS released a video of the pair pledging allegiance late on Wednesday
  • IS-affiliated news agency Amaq released another video showing Petitjean urging Muslims to destroy France and attack the West
View all 39 updates ›

UK churches told to review security after France murder

Police near the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvra where the priest died. Credit: Reuters

Churches and other sections of the Christian community in Britain have been urged to be "alert" following the murder of an elderly priest in France.

There is no specific intelligence about an attack, but police have told places of worship to "review their security arrangements as a precaution".

Two supporters of the so-called Islamic State group killed Father Jacques Hamel at a Normandy church on Tuesday.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said: "As we have seen, Daesh (another name for IS) and other terrorist groups have targeted Christian as well as Jewish and other faith groups in the West and beyond.

"Following recent events in France, we are reiterating our protective security advice to Christian places of worship and have circulated specific advice today."

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