German FM Calls French Church Hostage Taking Attack on European Unity

Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier condemned in the strongest terms Tuesday’s terrorist attack on a church in northern France, saying it was an assault on European unity.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Two knife-wielding men stabbed a priest to death after taking five people hostage inside a church in a small commune near Rouen. Daesh, banned in many countries including Russia, claimed responsibility for the murder.

"I am shocked by the news from France. Terrorism struck again, this time in northern France, in a church. The fanatic, murderous hate does not even stop before the house of God and worshipers," Steinmeier said in a statement.

The German foreign minister said his nation stood by France and mourned together with the victim of this bloody attack.

"We are committed to defying terrorism together with our partners. The attackers did not just want to spread terror, they also wanted to sow the seeds of disunity in our community… We will not give up our values, our freedom and our way of life," Steinmeier stressed.

French President Francois Hollande visited Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray and spoke to the victim’s family hours after the church crisis ended. He called on the nation to show unity in the face of terrorism and vowed to continue the fight against Daesh.