Europe

Assailants take hostages in Normandy church in France

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Map locates Rouen, France; 1c x 1 1/2 inches; 46.5 mm x 38 mm; (The Associated Press)

In this grab made from video, police officers speak to a driver as they close off a road during a hostage situation in Normandy, France, Tuesday, July 26, 2016. Two attackers seized hostages in a church near the Normandy city of Rouen on Tuesday, killing one hostage by slitting their throat before being killed by police, a security official said. The identities of the attackers and motive for the attack are unclear, according to the official, who was not authorized to be publicly named. (BFM via AP) (The Associated Press)

In this grab made from video, police officers close off a road during a hostage situation in Normandy, France, Tuesday, July 26, 2016. Two attackers seized hostages in a church near the Normandy city of Rouen on Tuesday, killing one hostage by slitting their throat before being killed by police, a security official said. The identities of the attackers and motive for the attack are unclear, according to the official, who was not authorized to be publicly named. (BFM via AP) (The Associated Press)

A local French official says police are surrounding a church in a suburb of Rouen, the capital of the Normandy region, after assailants seized hostages.

It is unclear how many people are inside the church in the town of Sainte-Etienne-du-Rouvray.

The official says police and the mayor are outside the church and elite police squads are heading to the scene. The official was not authorized to be publicly named.

National police would not comment on the incident.

It comes as France is on high alert after a Bastille Day attack that killed 84 people in Nice and a series of deadly attacks last year claimed by the Islamic State group.