French priest to attackers: ‘Go away, Satan’

An elderly French priest murdered a week ago by two extremists tried to push away his attackers with his feet, saying “go away, Satan”, the archbishop of Rouen has told his funeral Mass.

Hundreds of priests and bishops filled Rouen cathedral along with many hundreds more people, including Muslims who have joined in the grieving since the murder of 85-year-old Fr Jacques Hamel, who was slashed by his attackers while celebrating morning Mass at a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray.

The priest’s murder sent shockwaves through other faiths and all of France.