FRENCH Prime Minister Manuel Valls has announced a devastating crackdown on the “poison” of Islamic fundamentalism.

Valls says authorities will close problem mosques, cut foreign funding and police sermons in a bid to halt the extremist violence.

4 Prime Minister Manuel Valls has laid out plans to stop the spread of Islamic extremism in France Credit: Getty Images

This uncompromising statement comes after the horrific murder of 86-year-old Catholic priest Father Jacques Hamel last Tuesday, who was killed by two homegrown terror thugs in the Normandy town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray.

Speaking with a French newspaper, the Prime Minister highlighted mosques supporting Salafism - an ultra-conservative ideology based on ‘physical’ jihadism which Valls says has taken many Muslims “hostage”.

He said: “All Salafists are not jihadists ... but almost all are jihadist Salafists.

"A terrible poison has spread.

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"Slowly, insidiously, on a background of influences from abroad and rising communalism, developed against a model of society, a model against the Republic and its values.

"Many Muslims in France are taken hostage by the fundamentalist Salafism, who worship a weapon against others.

"The places of worship that house preachers will be closed systematically.

"It is necessary to rethink the training of imams and chaplains completely.

"France must become a European centre of excellence in the teaching of Islamic theology."

The French government is also considering introducing laws which will allow the expulsion of dual national citizens.

And Valls called on the entire country, including the Muslim communities, to ‘mobilise’ against the threat of Islamic extremism.

4 Imam of Oissel Abdellatif Hmito delivers a speech next to a painting depicting French priest Jaxques Hamel during a vigil at the church of Sainte-Therese in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray Credit: Getty Images

4 Muslims hold a special prayer service for Father Jacques Hamel, in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray Credit: Getty Images

He said: "This fight against radicalisation requires an unprecedented mobilisation of public authorities.

"We need a general mobilisation of all public and civil society as a whole.

"But beyond that there is the question of the construction of Islam in France.

"And Muslims therefore have a huge responsibility."

The attack in Normandy has united both Christian and Muslim communities in grief and revulsion at the terrifying crime.

Mohammed Karabila, one of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray Islamic leaders, said local Muslims refused to bury the bodies of the two 19-year-old brainwashed thugs.

4 Tributes to the victims of the deadly truck attack in Nice which killed 84 people.

He said: "We're not going to taint Islam with this person.

"We won't participate in preparing the body or the burial."

Less than two weeks before the Normandy murder, an Islamic extremist killed 84 people in the southern French city of Nice.

The victims, who were mowed down by a 19 tonne truck, were watching a fireworks display as part of the Bastille Day celebrations.

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