'Three dead' after hostage situation at church in Normandy

Police Nationale confirmed that two attackers had been neutralised. Picture: Wiki Commons

Two attackers, reportedly armed with knives, had taken between four and six people hostage at the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, south of the city of Rouen.

A priest and two nuns were said to be among those being held in the church, along with a number of churchgoers.

France's interior ministry confirmed that the two attackers had been shot dead, while police said one hostage had been killed after being stabbed with a knife.

France's Police Nationale gave few details about the incident but urged bystanders not to take any pictures or video at the scene.

President Francois Hollande, who was born in Rouen, and interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve are on their way to Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray to be briefed by police.

Rouen has a population of over 111,000 and was used as a supply base for the British during World War I.