TWO ISIS fanatics forced an 85-year-old priest to kneel by his altar yesterday then slashed his throat.

They filmed Jacques Hamel’s murder after storming his church during morning mass and taking five hostages.

27 An old photo from the 19-year-old suspect's Facebook page showed him wearing an Algerian hat in a picture taken back in 2011 Credit: Facebook

27 Nuns described how Father Hamel was executed as the congregation begged the attackers to stop Credit: Barcroft Media

27 The series of pictures on Kermiche's Facebook show him as a 14-year-old schoolboy Credit: Facebook

27 The second attacker who was shot dead alongside Kermiche has not yet been identified Credit: Facebook

27 Police surround the body of the one of the terrorists following the sick attack in which the pair are alleged to have performed a sermon in Arabic after executing the elderly priest Credit: Getty Images

The killers, called “soldiers” by IS, were shot dead as they fled the church near Rouen, France.

Terror expert Dr Razaq Raj said: “They’re not soldiers — they are the most evil cowards.”

One of the killers was later named as known terror suspect Adel Kermiche, 19.

A distraught nun has described how she watched the Islamist maniacs carry out the barbaric execution before preaching a sermon in Arabic.

Made a radical by a jihadi monster ADEL Kermiche became radicalised in just three months and was pals with a French jihadi involved in the beheading of Americans in Syria, it has emerged. French security sources said he had met notorious Maxime Hauchard, 24, close to his home village in Normandy. It raised the possibility Kermiche was inspired to carry out yesterday’s horrific attack by Hauchard. The son of a professor, Kermiche had been a normal sports-mad Simpsons fan who loved Rihanna. But he became radical after the slaughter at satirical mag Charlie Hebdo in Paris in January last year, which left 12 staff dead.

The knifeman forced the 85-year-old to his knees beside his church’s altar before murdering him as his accomplice videoed the atrocity.

The nun, Sister Danielle said: “Everybody was shouting, ‘Stop’.

“He attacked Jacques and made him kneel so that he almost made him fall.

“That’s when I fled. He was busy setting about him with the knife and he didn’t see me leave.”

27 A young man was arrested by police on Tuesday afternoon following the Normandy horror Credit: Getty Images

27 A plain-clothes police officer is seen to march the youngster away in handcuffs Credit: Getty Images

27 The suspect was pictured wearing a white t-shirt and blue jogging bottoms Credit: Reuters

The two fanatics stormed into the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, northern France, through a rear door shortly after 9.30am during morning mass.

They grabbed Father Hamel along with two nuns and two parishioners.

Sister Danielle said one of the attackers “gave a kind of little sermon in Arabic standing by the altar”.

Both killers were shot dead by police as they ran from the church shouting “Allahu Akbar”.

Two of the hostages were wounded in the attack on the church. One was critical yesterday.

27 Father Jacques Hamel was savagely killed by the suspected terror attackers Credit: Getty Images

27 The priest had tried to protect his colleagues and worshippers from the evil pair Credit: MARK STGEORGE

27 France recoiled in shocked after the 84-year-old was butchered in his own church Credit: MARK STGEORGE

27 Saint Etienne du Rouvray Church, where the attack reportedly took place Credit: Wikipedia

27 French police officers and fire engines arrived at the scene of the suspected terror attack Credit: Getty Images

27 The small town in Normandy is filled with emergency service vehicles Credit: Reuters

27 Anti-terror police pictured near the church where the attack took place Credit: Getty Images

The French authorities have admitted the attackers were known terrorist suspects — sparking questions over why they had not been under surveillance.

One was named by security sources as 19-year-old Adel Kermiche.

He lived near the church with his parents and had only been out of jail since March 22.

Father Jacques was a good man and treasured by everyone EULALIE GARCIA

Kermiche had been seized in Turkey during his second attempt to reach IS.

He was returned to France and jailed on terror charges.

He was freed on probation and tagged.

But despite his known terror links he was somehow allowed to go unsupervised between 8.30am and 12.30pm daily.

His accomplice was also said to live locally and was named on a list of suspected extremists.

27 President Hollande embraces a local man in the town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray Credit: Getty Images

27 French President Francois Hollande (L) speaks with police forces in Saint-Etienne-du -Rouvray near Rouen in Normandy, France. Credit: Reuters

27 Hollande meets members of the elite fighting unit RAID Credit: Getty Images

27 Masked members of the French elite fighting unit RAID, pictured meeting President Hollane after helping take down the two terrorists Credit: Getty Images

French church hostage terror: Latest

The revelation of the lapse triggered outrage across France, where the authorities have been heavily criticised for security failings in previous IS-linked killings.

After the terrorists were shot by police, one was found to be wearing an explosive belt while the other had a fake bomb.

Prosecutor Francois Molins said they had used three of the hostages as human shields.

He added: “Police attempted to enter the church but could not because three hostages were being used as a barrier by the doors.

“Shortly afterwards the three hostages left the church followed by the two terrorists who were carrying handheld weapons.

“They shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ and were attacked by the police.

“One of the attackers was found to be carrying an explosive belt made of aluminium paper and three knives.

“And another carried a weapon covered in aluminium foil.

“He was also carrying a backpack in which was found a fake explosive device.”

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Father Hamel was only at the church because he was covering for a priest who was on holiday.

The veteran cleric was a local man who was yesterday described as a “quiet pillar of the community”.

Eulalie Garcia, who works in a beauty salon near the church, said: “He was someone who was treasured by the community.

“He was very discreet and didn’t like to draw attention to himself.”

Another local parishioner said: “This was a man who did his job to the very end.

“He was old, but always available for everyone. He was a good priest.”

French President, Francois Hollande speaks in Normandy following the church attack in which a priest was killed

27 Police and rescue workers stand at the scene after the two assailants were shot and killed Credit: Reuters

27 French police pictured in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray near Rouen Credit: EPA

27 French Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet speaks to the media following the attack Credit: Getty Images

27 A makeshift memorial was set up for the victims of the attack Credit: EPA

27 Members of the public lit candles and left flowers in front of the city hall Credit: EPA

French interior ministry spokesman Pierre Henri Brandet on church 'terror attack'

Father Moanda-Phuati, priest at the neighbouring Eglise St Etienne, said of his murdered colleague: “He was a courageous priest.

“Priests have the right to retire at 75 but he preferred to work in the service of the people because he still felt strong.”

Another local cleric described Father Hamel as “a ray of sunshine”.

Father Aime Remi Mputu Amba said: “I often told him, jokingly, ‘Jacques, you are getting on a bit, it’s time to take your pension’. To which he replied, laughing, ‘Have you ever seen a retired pastor? I will work until my last breath’.”

French president Francois Hollande yesterday visited the community, where Father Hamel was seeing out his retirement.

Emergency services race to Normandy church after hostage attack

27 Father Jacques Hamel was decapitated by the two brainwashed killers Credit: Barcroft Media

27 French soldiers and police officers litter the streets of the town in Normandy Credit: AP:Associated Press

27 Emergency services are filmed rushing a person on a stretcher towards an ambulance Credit: Sky News

The church at St-Etienne-du-Rouvray was on a hit list found on suspected IS thug Sid Ahmed Ghlam last year.

The Algerian computer student, 24, was arrested when he called an ambulance in Paris after shooting himself in the leg.

Police found an arsenal of weapons in Ghlam’s car and at his student accommodation — including Kalashnikovs, a pistol, and bullet-proof vests.

Documents at his flat suggested he had been ordered by IS in Syria to target the Sacre-Couer basilica in Paris and a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray.

A 17-year-old relative of Kermiche’s was arrested yesterday at his home in the Rouen suburb.

French Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said of the attack: “I will not talk about the motives of these individuals.

“I cannot tell you more about the persons who have been seriously injured and who have been assassinated, for the simple reason investigations are ongoing and the sniffer dogs are carrying out their work.

“We face a dramatic situation again, less than two weeks after the Nice tragedy.”

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