Terrorists attack a church

Terrorists attack a church July 27, 2016

Two Islamic terrorists burst into a church during Mass in Normandy, France.  They beheaded the 84-year-old priest, critically-wounded a nun, and took four hostages.  The terrorists were killed by police snipers.  ISIS has taken responsibility for the attack.

Churches would be natural targets for terrorists.  This particular congregation was said to be on one of those hit list of targets circulated by ISIS, so as to encourage “lone wolf” attacks.  See this for a report on an  American list, which is said to include churches.  The FBI is said to be contacting those listed, but I’m curious what authorities are doing for their security.

Does your church have a security protocol in place?  Should it?  Or should churches not resist evildoers and instead embrace martyrdom if it comes?

From Normandy church attack leaves French priest beheaded by ISIS knifemen | Daily Mail Online:

Francois Hollande says France is at war with ISIS after two Islamist knifemen butchered a French priest and left a nun fighting for her life before they were both shot dead by police in Normandy.

One of the men who stormed into the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray near Rouen during mass was a local man, who was being monitored by electronic tag after being jailed for trying to join fanatics in Syria.

The 84-year-old priest, named as Jacques Hamel, had his throats cut while a nun is critically injured in hospital following the raid which saw five people held hostage by ISIS assailants shouting Allahu Akbar.

This afternoon it emerged that the murdered clergyman was deputising while the parish priest was on holiday. French authorities say they have arrested a third man in connection with the attack.

The two killers were ‘neutralised’ by marksmen as they emerged from the building, which is now being searched for explosives. French president Hollande said France is ‘at war’ with ISIS while the terror group has claimed responsibility for the killing.

It comes as it emerged that the building was one of a number of Catholic churches on a terrorist ‘hit list’ found on a suspected ISIS extremist last April.

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