“A police official said one of the attackers was turned back after trying to go to Syria. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to reveal details of the investigation, said the man wore an electronic bracelet to monitor his movements.”
As I have pointed out many times, Muslims prevented from joining the Islamic State in Syria may decide to wage jihad at home. And here we are. This one’s movements were being monitored by police — so as he entered the church, took hostages, and beheaded the priest, they knew exactly where he was. But given the state of awareness of the jihad threat among authorities these days, they probably thought he was entering the church for “dialogue,” and so didn’t bother to check on what he was doing until it was too late.
“Islamic State Claims Attack That Killed Priest During Mass,” by Elaine Ganley and Alex Turnbull, Associated Press, July 26, 2016:
Two attackers took hostages inside a French church during morning Mass on Tuesday near the city of Rouen, killing an 86-year-old priest by slitting his throat before being shot and killed by police, French officials said. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Another person inside the church in Normandy was seriously injured and is hovering between life and death, Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said. Police managed to rescue the only three other people inside the church in the small northwestern town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, he told reporters.
A regional Muslim leader said one of the two attackers — who were killed outside the church — was known to police.
It was the first known attack inside a French church in recent times. A church was targeted last year, but the attack never was carried out.
A statement published by the Islamic State-affiliated Amaq news agency said the attack was carried out by “two soldiers of the Islamic State” who acted in response to calls to target nations in the U.S.-led coalition fighting IS in Iraq and Syria.
The RAID special intervention force was searching for possible explosives in or around the church.
“The investigations are ongoing. There are still unknowns,” Brandet said. “There are dogs, explosive detectors and bomb disposal services and as long as there are still unknowns, the judicial police cannot get inside the site. It’s a dramatic situation.”
Dominique Lebrun, the archbishop of Rouen, confirmed the death of 86-year-old Rev. Jacques Hamel.
“I cry out to God, with all men of good will. And I invite all non-believers to unite with this cry,” Lebrun wrote in a statement from Krakow, Poland, where Pope Francis was expected. “The Catholic Church has no other arms besides prayer and fraternity between men.”
French President Francois Hollande, arriving on the scene, called it a “vile terrorist attack” and said it’s one more sign that France is at war with the Islamic State, which has claimed a string of attacks on France.
“We must lead this war with all our means,” he said, adding that he was calling a meeting on Wednesday of representatives of all religions.
He expressed solidarity with local Catholics, saying “they have been terribly hit by the killing of the parish priest by two terrorists claiming to belong to Daesh. I have met with the family of the priest.”
A police official said one of the attackers was turned back after trying to go to Syria. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to reveal details of the investigation, said the man wore an electronic bracelet to monitor his movements.
Mohammed Karabila, head of the Regional Council of the Muslim Faith for Haute-Normandie, said French security services knew the name of one of the attackers.
“The person who committed this odious act is known and he has been followed by the police for at least 1 1/2 years. He went to Turkey and security services were alerted after this,” he told The Associated Press by phone. He refused to divulge man’s name and had no information on the second attacker.
The pope condemned the attack in the strongest terms. Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said in a statement the attack hits particularly hard “because this horrific violence took place in a church, a sacred place in which the love of God is announced, and the barbaric murder of a priest.”…

David M says
I wonder if beheading a Catholic Priest in his own church will finally wake up Joe Public to the fact that “Houston, we have a problem with Islam? ”
I’ve given up on a large percentage of the population though, the amount of people claiming all the other Muslim attackers in Europe recently were not really Muslim is incredible.
john spielman says
more important : will it wake up pope francis?
Santa Voorhees says
He didn’t wake after Paris, Brussels, Orlando, Istanbul, Nice, Munich… so no, he definitely won’t wake up.
Ex-muslim says
What? He wore an “Ankle Bracelet”?
CHILDISH!!! Clueless Western animals think they can control a jihadist killer by making him wear an “ankle bracelet”. These are the type of people who are running the West today. Very stupid and childish!!!!!!
gravenimage says
Again, “Ex-muslim” refers to Westerners as “animals”.
Note that he has never called murderous Jihadists animals.
Christianblood says
Ex-muslim posted
(They) “think they can control a jihadist killer by making him wear an “ankle bracelet”. These are the type of people who are running the West today. Very stupid and childish!!!!!”.
You are right, (EM!) It is ridiculously mind-boggling!
Angemon says
And once again in a story about a jihad attack that claimed innocent lives “Ex-muslim” prefers to rant about “Western animals”. Good to see he has his priorities straight…
Jay Boo says
gravenimage and Angemon are right on the mark.
Ex-Muslim is about as anti-jihad as that other supposed ex-Muzzie Ismael the troll.
panda says
The archbishop, “The Catholic Church has no other arms besides prayer and fraternity between men.” That’s because you’ve allowed yourselves to become unarmed. Fraternity. Wow.
Heather says
The culprits are mentally ill, having personal problems or their moons aren’t aligned perfectly with their sphincter..the politicians and media will say anything except they are radicalized Muslims who are killing us because they are waging war against us and wish to wipe us off the face of the earth. Why let a little thing like the truth stand in the way of our new multicultural (more than one type of Muslim) world? We are making it beyond easy for them.
Bob says
Heather – the head-in-sand politicos, tied down by political correctness is handing the west – including the USA – over to islam & barbaric shari’a law without a fight.
c matt says
A police official said one of the attackers was turned back after trying to go to Syria.
I don’t get it, turned back from where, to where? Back to France? If they want to go to Syria, let them go – get them the hell out of Western countries.
Dom107 says
Yes let them go to one place to be destroyed or at least don’t let them run free,Common sense ?????
Santa Voorhees says
Simple solution: let them go to Syria and do not allow them to return.
But as always, the brains of our authorities are… wait! Do they even have brains in the first place?
ProudAmerican says
SV – I propose this as a better solution. Let them go to Syria but plant a tracking device in their luggage when they go through customs. When they arrive at their ‘final destination’ truly make it their ‘final destination’ by bombing the shit out of them and their IShit buddies. Not only have you eliminated one problem, but maybe you eliminate a few more in the process.
Lynn in Florida says
Good idea! Wish I had thought of it.
DP111 says
Its not the Jihadis that are the existential threat. In fact, they are alerting us to the coming existential crisis.
Muslim population growth is several times larger then European rates. In less then 50 years, Muslims will be a majority. And that’s that . Sharia, and the end of Western civilisation
Jura says
I can give you an example of population growth crisis from my homeland – Czechia.
In 1930s in Czech lands (then part of Czechoslovakia) the fertility rate was 1.5-1.6 children per woman. Number of inhabitants: approximatelly 10 milions. After losses in second world war (approximatelly 400000 people) and expulsion of German minority (approximately 2.5 million), the post WWII fertilty rate was approximatelly 3.5 children per a woman. The result was that in 1990 the population of Czech lands was 10 million. (1990 I have chosen because in the times of Cold war ther was no population growth because of imigration).
Simply: for the future there is no reason that fertility rate can not grow from todays 1.4 chidren per woman to 3 children per woman. What can be very problematic is the filling of vacant space by an alien population in nature.
Always On Watch says
Were the women (nuns?) held hostage raped?
Bill B. says
Yes. The practice of trying to stop Muslims joining ISIS must be urgently reversed.
ISIS is a death cult and their eager would-be soldiers all know that. They should be permitted to leave, with the warning they will never, repeat never be permitted to return.
The ones already returned must be locked up, with the choice of permanent exile.
Muslims generally must be much more carefully contained and controlled: zero tolerance for intolerance. If they don’t like it – and many will not – there are over 50 Islamic countries for them to join.
StuartG says
I have never understood the sense behind stopping them going, less so the sense in forcing them to stay in Western countries. After all the explicit connotation of them attempting to join IS is that they wish to murder Westerners. Surely it is fairly obvious that if they have made that decision then they are murderers looking for a victim. Do the authorities seriously feel electronic tags will deter them? This is an unforgivable lack of protection from the Government to its people.
They should of course be allowed to go, they should not be allowed back in and if they are then they should be jailed on entrance. Failing that the community they live in should be made aware of their presence, this is not profiling, it is protection of the people against someone who wants to murder them. An electronic tag is an insult to the relatives of those murdered.
How many others are there tagged and waiting to attack?
cheryl s. says
French President Hollande expresses solidarity with the Catholics…..EMPTY WORDS! The confused President feigns such shock and horror!
How about doing something meaningful President Hollande! Start by erecting Border Walls, Guard your Ports & Tunnels and all points of entry and, most importantly, Deport EVERY practicing muslim residing in your country…NO EXCEPTIONS!!! Start with Marseilles and Paris.
Samuel adams says
Well said, that is the only real answer!
TH says
If jihadis want to go to Syria, let them go and revoke their passport so that they can never return or go anywhere else.
Angemon says
So he went and waged jihad on French soil. I wonder if the person/people responsible for keeping him in French soil (both the policy-makers and the enforcers of said policies) will get a good night’s sleep…
What, was the bracelet supposed to alert the police if he crossed the border?
Well, that’s the problem, isn’t it? There was a time when the Catholic Church had steel to defend prayers and fraternity among men.
grace says
He must have been incredibly brave to tackle an 86 year old.
Mockingjay says
Oh yeah, they are so brave…
There is no humanity in these muslims. There probably never was.
Only darkness.
They’re nothing but filthy ORCS.
Jay Boo says
Schadenfreude is a Muslims only joy.
anno nimus says
Ye shall know them by their fruits.
Rotten tree mohamet planted
By the millions in Europa supplanted
To weaken the Church liberals wanted
Mayhem and doom so they invited
Pray ye brethren, the demons are excited.
El Cid says
I guess no one is confused about the motive here.
Let’s see how the New York Times deals with that!
gravenimage says
I’m afraid this even this *hasn’t* stopped the press from pretending to be puzzled by the motive:
“France: Muslims screaming “Islamic State” behead priest, authorities search for motive”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2016/07/france-muslims-screaming-islamic-state-behead-priest-authorities-search-for-motive
In this Le Figaro article it says, “The men’s motives are still unknown…” and “The attackers’ motives are unknown and police have arrived at the scene, according to news website Normandie Actu”.
The willful denial runs deep…
Kay says
Ridiculous!
Jay Boo says
The search “for a cause” will continue.
mortimer says
The ankle bracelet won’t scare someone who’s planning to die in jihad glory.
Lynn in Florida says
Instead of preventing French citizens from going to Syria to fight with ISIS, it would be better to let them go but confiscate their passports to prevent them from coming back. Those who have had their passports taken could then have their citizenship revoked.
chrissie01 says
exactly. They want to go – let them go. And don’t let them back in.
gravenimage says
France: Muslim who beheaded priest known to police, wore ankle bracelet to track movements
………………………..
We see how well *that* worked. This church was also on a “hit list” of ISIS targets. There are other French churches on that list. Will they get protection now?
French citizen says
There is too many churches in France to protect them all.
It already takes 10000 soldiers and policemen to protect a few synagogues and Jewish school and about 1000 mosques.
Yes the French authorities protect the mosques in case a mad crusader would seek revenge but they don’t care about churches.
Kay says
Has anyone actually made a threat against a mosque? Seems they could move that personnel to protect churches.
chrissie01 says
German authorities are very concerned with hate speech against Islam from right wingers. According to their minister of justice, Heiko Maas, this is where the actual risk lies.
Guest says
Where’s the bs about Islam being a peaceful religion Pope?
Joe says
Islam is peace. Build more mosques! Let immigrate more peaceful Muslims. That will prevent such attacks.
That will be the conclusion of the traitors.
Like: Gas is peace. If your house is on fire, pour more gas into it! That will kill the fire!
UriahB says
Ive come to the conclusion that the total blindness and pc that is threatening the European continent has got to be blamed on the water.
When every day, a monstrous act is committed, and the lame excuses, if there in fact there are, continue in the press and govt., I am at a loss to find a reasonable explanation.
There is no sane way to deal with this because it will continue. Its gotten to a point that every day, I get increasingly depressed. If its not the water, its the kool ade that is being consumed. At this point, I am praying for a miracle. When finally, these degenerates are destroyed, deported and deballed.
An ankle bracelet? We have here cultural war, not a domestic dispute. But I don’t believe it will happen. The famed trojan horse wasnt sneaked in during the night. It was welcomed with open arms. God have mercy on us.
Norwegian says
That is a classic now…
Many of these guys have been walking around with a big red warning light on top of their heads…and somehow slips through the net like slimy snakes…
Norwegian says
“Known by police…”
“Been under investigation..”
“Countless cases of voilence..”
“Screened by secirity…”
“Reports and complaints..”
“Been to jail..”
“Openly supported extremism (the right word would be islam..)”
“Asylum aplication rejected…marked for deportation…”
And so on…
I bet they could do these attacks if they had ten top trained elite-agents with machineguns following them around…
sham says
Killing innocent is a symbol of ignorance [lack of religious knowledge]:
Muslim :: Book 34 : Hadith 6458
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: (When) the time would draw close to the Last Hour, knowledge would be snatched away, turmoil would be rampant, miserliness would be put (in the hearts of the people) and therewould be much bloodshed. They said: What is al-harj? Thereupon he said: It is bloodshed.
2:85. After this, it is you who kill one another and drive out a party of you from their homes, assist (their enemies) against them, in sin and transgression. And if they come to you as captives, you ransom them, although their expulsion was forbidden to you. Then do you believe in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest? Then what is the recompense of those who do so among you, except disgrace in the life of this world, and on the Day of Resurrection they shall be consigned to the most grievous torment. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.
5: 28. “If you do stretch your hand against me to kill me, I shall never stretch my hand against you to kill you, for I fear Allah; the Lord of the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinns, and all that exists).”
Muslim :: Book 16 : Hadith 4158
‘Abdullah b. (Mas’ud) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The first (thing) that will be decided among people on the Day of Judgment will pertain to bloodshed.
Prohibit killing non Muslim with peace agreement:
8: 72. Verily, those who believed, and emigrated and strove hard and fought with their property and their lives in the Cause of Allah as well as those who gave (them) asylum and help, – these are (all) allies to one another. And as to those who believed but did not emigrate (to you O Muhammad SAW), you owe no duty of protection to them until they emigrate, but if they seek your help in religion, it is your duty to help them except against a people with whom you have a treaty of mutual alliance, and Allah is the All-Seer of what you do.
9: 4. Except those of the Mushrikûn with whom you have a treaty, and who have not subsequently failed you in aught, nor have supported anyone against you. So fulfill their treaty to them to the end of their term. Surely Allah loves Al- Mattaqûn
“God forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you
not for (your) faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing
kindly and justly with them: for God loveth those who are just.”
(H.Q. 60:8)
“God only forbids you, with regard to those who fight you
for (your) faith, and drive you out of your homes, and support
(others) in driving you out, from turning to them (for friendship
and protection). It is such as turn to them (in these circumst
ances), that do wrong.” (H.Q. 60:9)
CAN MUSLIM KILL AGED PEOPLE?
Malik :: Book 21 : Hadith 21.3.10
Do not kill women or children or ”””””””’an aged”””””””’, ”””””””weak person””””””””””’,Do not cut down fruit-bearing trees.Do not destroy an inhabited place. Do not slaughter sheep or camels except for food. Do not burn bees and do not scatter them. Do not steal from the booty,
Tony McGurk says
Sympaties onece again to France as well as the Priest, his family & parisioners. What a gutless coward killing an 86 year old defenceless man, but that’s what these coward terrorists do, attack unarmed innocent civilians. When on earth will our stupid western governments stop welcoming these monsters into our countries???
I read an article recently on the Royal Australian Navy’s Facebook Page where the Australian Government has told the Australian Defence Forces to recruit more Muslims into our Army, Navy & Airforce. What the hell??? I’m ex Australian Navy & I am disgusted with this.
Richard says
Can urban terrorism be brought under control in the E.U. ? Current methods for surveillance are patently inadequate to maintain the illusion of Law and Order and the coercive powers which society invests in the military will not succeed in an urban environment
Lioness says
The insane policy of not letting islaimists go to Syria is bearing fruit. Had he been allowed to leave never to return, this atrocity would not have happened. He was wearing a tracking anklet. A lot of good that did – they got him AFTER the fact.
All “devout” muslims should be shipped to ISIS, but especially if they want to go, it’s such a bonus. Why governments don’t get it?