Islamic State (ISIS) flag
Islamic State (ISIS) flagPhoto: Dado Ruvic / Reuters

The ISIS terror organization has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on a church near Rouen, France on Tuesday, saying the terrorists involved were “soldiers of ISIS”.

Two men who had declared their allegiance to the radical Islamic terror group, took five hostages in a church in the town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray near Rouen in Normandy.

The terrorists killed one hostage and seriously wounded a second.

Jacques Himel, 86, a priest, was horrifically murdered in the attack, his throat slit, while doctors are struggling to save the life of the second victim.

The Daily Mail has reported that Himel was beheaded during the attack before French police shot and killed both of the terrorists involved.

French President Francois Hollande, who is from Rouen, hurried to the scene. Hollande condemned the "cowardly murder of the parish priest by two terrorists claiming to be from Daesh [ISIS]".

"The threat remains very high," said Hollande.

Pope Francis voiced his "pain and horror" at the "barbaric killing" of the priest.

Yediot Aharonot has reported that one of the knifemen tried to travel to Syria in 2015.

AFP contributed to this report