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Islamist knifemen forced priest, 84, to kneel and filmed his death as they slit his throat: Hollande says 'France is at war with ISIS' after jihadists storm French church during Mass chanting 'Allahu Akbar' Two ISIS knifemen who stormed a church in Normandy forced an elderly priest to kneel before filming themselves butchering him and performing a 'sermon in Arabic' at the altar, a terrified witness has revealed.

Both were shot dead by police marksmen as they emerged from the building shouting 'Allahu Akbar' following the attack that also left a nun critically injured. French President Francois Hollande, who visited the scene today, said the country is now 'at war' with ISIS after the terror group claimed responsibility for the attack.

A priest, two nuns and two churchgoers were among those held after the men rushed into the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, in Normandy, France, during a morning service, soon after 9am.

Two men armed with knives took several people hostage at Church of the Gambetta (pictured) in France's northern Normandy region on Tuesday.

It has emerged that the church (top center) was one of a number of Catholic churches on a terrorist 'hit list' found on a suspected ISIS extremist last April.

This 84-year-old priest, named as Jacques Hamel, had his throat cut in a Normandy church this morning in an attack that also left a nun critically injured and both jihadis dead.

The two ISIS killers forced elderly priest Jacques Hamel to his knees before filming themselves cutting his throat, according to witnesses.

A French policeman cordons off the area around the body of one of the two knifemen who stormed into a Normandy church.

The area was cordoned off and soldiers were called to the scene as a search for explosives got underway at the church today.

Armed police are pictured making an arrest of a third man at a house in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray.

The man was pictured being bundled into a police car.

The priest was butchered by knifemen who cut his throat after bursting into a French church and taking hostages before being shot dead by police.

Units attending included the elite RAID, that was heavily involved in the Paris attacks last year, in which almost 150 people were murdered.

French President Francois Hollande (pictured visiting the scene of the attack today), appealed for 'unity' in France.

Francois Hollande has pledged to fight ISIS 'using all means possible' after the attack which resulted in the murder of an 84-year-old priest.

French president Francois Hollande (pictured embracing the town's mayor Hubert Wulfranc) said France is 'at war' with ISIS.

Francois Hollande flanked by Hubert Wulfranc mayor of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray (left) and French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve (right), speaks to the press as he leaves the Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray's city hall.

Police stand on guard in the town.

There were reports the attackers shouted 'Daesh' – an alternative name for ISIS often used by the French government – as they ran into the church while at least one of the men was dressed in Islamic clothing.

A French soldier stands guard as he prevents the access to the scene of the attack in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, Normandy, France.

Priests Edgar Deguenon (left) and Brice de Malherbe (centre) arrive for a mass at the Notre-Dame cathedral on July 26, 2016 in Paris, in memory of the murdered priest in the Normandy city of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray.

Mourners attend a mass in memory of the slain priest, as it emerged that his killers were already known to be terror threats by French police.