THE Archbishop of Glasgow has sent a message of support from the city to Rouen, in France, following the killing of a priest in a terrorist attack.

Philip Tartaglia contacted his counterpart Mgr Dominique Lebrun, in Rouen, to show solidarity with the city.

Father Jacques Hamel, 84, was killed and hostages taken by two attackers in the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, in Northern France.

The attackers were shot and killed by police.

French president Francois Hollande said that Islamic State was behind the killing and the group alter claimed two of its “soldiers” were responsible.

Archbishop Tartaglia sent a letter expressing “shock and sorrow” from the archdiocese of Glasgow and from Catholics in the city and across Scotland.

He said: “We are truly appalled at the series of attacks which have been perpetrated on France and her people over recent weeks. This latest incident represents a new and shocking development – namely the attack on people engaged in the worship of God in a sacred place.”

He offered prayers for those in France and Germany who he said were “so cruelly targeted by men of evil intent”.