SINGAPORE - Singapore has condemned the knife attack in a church in northern France, which killed an elderly priest and seriously wounded another person, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Tuesday (July 26).

"Singapore condemns this terrorist attack in a house of worship. Nothing can justify such a brutal act," the MFA said in a statement in response to the attack.

"We express our deepest condolences and hope the injured will recover quickly," the ministry added.

A priest in his mid-80s was killed in a hostage-taking by two assailants armed with knives when they stormed the morning mass at a church in the Normandy town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray on Tuesday.

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.

The priest reportedly had his throat slit by the attackers.

He was one of five people who had been taken hostage by the attackers.

Another hostage is seriously injured.

Both of the assailants have been shot dead by police.