One of the men who killed a Roman Catholic priest in Normandy, France, Tuesday may have been a known terrorist who tried to join the Islamic State.
Authorities are trying to determine whether Adel Kermiche, 19, is one of the assailants who stormed the church in northwestern France brandishing knives, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Kermiche was forced to wear an ankle bracelet after he was convicted of terrorism charges in March, stemming from his attempt to join the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, last year.
He was detained by authorities in Turkey, who sent him to Geneva. The Swiss charged him with a criminal conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism before returning him to French authorities.
The assailants reportedly slit the throat of the Rev. Jacques Hamel, 84, took up to five people hostage and seriously injured a church patron during the attack.
One of the nuns who fled the scene said the attackers forced the priest to kneel before killing him and later performed a “sermon” in Arabic.
Officials suspect Mr. Kermiche, who grew up in France, was one of the two assailants. Both were fatally shot by authorities upon exiting the church.
French President Francois Hollande said the attackers swore their allegiance to the Islamic State before killing Father Hamel.
• Bradford Richardson can be reached at brichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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