A priest has reportedly been killed after being held hostage in Normandy in northern France.

5 people were being held in a church in the town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray. 

The two hostage takers, who were armed with knives, are believed to have been shot dead by the police.

There are reports the priest's throat was cut, while he was saying mass.

France church attack: Priest killed in hostage taking near Rouen - BBC News https://t.co/GzIFFJIAQV pic.twitter.com/UBoqTxC9Ge

— matiere* (@matiere) July 26, 2016

No terror group has yet claimed responsibility for the massacre, but Paris Correspondent with the Irish Times, Lara Marlowe, says it's likely to be the work of ISIS

She describes what happened.

 
Sky News correspondent Mark White, says the swift way the siege was dealt with shows a change of tactics from French authorities: