A priest has been killed in an attack by two armed men on his church in northern France

A priest has been killed in an attack by two armed men on his church in northern France.

The attackers entered the church during Mass, taking the priest, Fr Jacques Hamel, 84, and four other people hostage.

Police later surrounded the church and French TV said shots were fired. Both hostage-takers were killed.

News agencies, linked to so-called Islamic State, said “two IS soldiers” had carried out the attack.

President Francois Hollande said the men had claimed to be from IS. He said the attackers had committed a “cowardly assassination” and France would fight IS “by all means”.

Pope Francis decried the “pain and horror of this absurd violence”.

The French interior ministry spokesman said one of the hostages had been critically wounded. He said the hostage-takers had been “neutralised” after coming out of the church. French prosecutors say one person has since been detained over the attack.

Police sources said it appeared the attackers had slit the priest’s throat with a knife.

The area was cordoned off while the church was searched for explosives, and police told people to stay away.