Jacques Hamel

Four convicted over terrorist murder of French priest

France — Link

Four men were on Wednesday handed sentences of between eight years and life in prison for having helped or encouraged the 2016 murder, claimed by the so-called islamic State group, of Father Jacques Hamel, 85, whose throat was slashed during mass in his church in northern France by two 19-year-olds who were shot dead by police.

How French intelligence tried to cover up failings over Catholic priest's murder

France — Investigation

Local police intelligence officers became aware of the growing threatening online messages of one of the two jihadists who killed Catholic priest Father Jacques Hamel in Normandy in July 2016 five days before the attack, but the information was not passed on to the national French intelligence agency, Mediapart can reveal. When the police intelligence unit later discovered this delay they doctored the files in a bid to make it look as if their original discovery was only made on the day of the attack itself. The French prosecution services have now opened an investigation into the affair. As Matthieu Suc reports, this claim of a blunder and attempted cover-up will raise fresh questions over the effectiveness of France's counter-terrorism operations.

Murdered French priest's sister rejects hate

France — Link

President Macron also attended ceremony to mark annivesary of killing of Father Jacque Hamel, whose throat was cut as he celebrated mass.

French church where priest was murdered reopens

France — Link

Parishioners gathered for ceremony reopening church in northern France where Father Hamel was killed by teenage jihadists two months ago.

Second Normandy church attacker 'named'

France — Link

The suspected identity of the man who joined Adel Kermiche in the murderous attack on a Normandy church was found in Kermiche's home.

Priest murdered in Normandy church attack claimed by Islamic State: update

France

A priest was murdered and one of his parishioners left in a critical condition by two knife-wielding men acting in the name of Islamic State group (IS) who attacked a Normandy church during a celebration of Mass on Tuesday morning. IS later claimed responsibility. The assailants, who had cut the 85-year-old priest’s throat in front of a small group of nuns and worshipers, and who attempted to cut the throat of a parishioner, were shot dead by police as they came out of the church in what is believed to be the first attack on a Catholic place of worship in Europe by Islamic extremists. Paris public prosecutor François Molins provided further details about the attack on Tuesday evening. Graham Tearse reports.

Tributes pour in for priest murdered in Normandy church attack

France — Link

Retired priest Jacques Hamel, 86, who had served almost 60 years in the clergy and who continued to help the local church, was described as 'a good man'.