French PM on 'Barbaric' Church Attack: 'We Will Stand Shoulder to Shoulder'

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls reacted to the "barbaric" attack on a church in the French northern Normandy region on Tuesday, saying that the French nation and all Catholics should stay shoulder to shoulder in the face of such a tragedy.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, two armed men took five people hostage at the Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray church in the Seine-Maritime commune. The attackers were later neutralized, while at least one hostage was killed.

"I am horrified by the barbaric attack at the Seine-Maritime church. All France and all Catholics are hurt. We will stand shoulder to shoulder," Valls said on Twitter.

Horreur face à l'attaque barbare d'une église de Seine-Maritime. La France entière et tous les catholiques sont meurtris. Nous ferons bloc.

— Manuel Valls (@manuelvalls) 26 июля 2016 г.

​His statement comes as President Francois Hollande and Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuvewill are set to arrive at the scene.

Earlier on Tuesday, the investigation of the attack has been handed over to the police anti-terror department.