10 years ago in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, near Rouen, Father Jacques Hamel was murdered in his church in the middle of mass by two young French men, two radical Islamists, one of whom lived in the city. The former president of the republic recalls this day, which marked his five-year term in office.
When he arrived by car in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray on July 26, 2016, less than three hours after the attack, the President of the Republic was met a few meters from the scene of the tragedy by the Prefect of the Seine-Maritime in a bulletproof vest.
Accompanied by François Hollande on a small street overlooking the church, he first meets Hubert Wulfranck, the city’s communist mayor since 2002.
The two men look at each other. The President hugs a very experienced local elected official who tells him: “we must reassure the population. Surround everyone.“The head of state replied: “Confrontation should be avoided. Make sure people don’t take revenge.“
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On July 26, 2016, François Hollande traveled to Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray, just hours after the attack.
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This meeting, these words, Francois Hollande remembers them very well. In his office in Paris, the man who is now Corrèze’s deputy agreed to host us to answer our questions.
After showing him footage taken during his meeting with Hubert Wulfrank, we ask him about how he felt at that particular moment.
To me this image represents what unity should be like every time. Unity in the commune, national unity. This is what we wanted, the mayor and I.
François Hollande, President of the Republic (2012–2017)
“I know Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray. I know what this commune represents, the people’s commune, the united commune. I know what such a tragedy can mean for the mayor.” – states François Hollande in the introduction.
“I didn’t know Mr. Wulfrank before I saw him there, it was like he came out of nowhere. Because there was nowhere, the horror was so great. So we have this meeting where our duty is to ensure cohesion and protection of the population, and to pacify, to be both compassionate, but at the same time authoritative and firm. And make sure the population can come together as one.”
On July 26, 2016, it was in this church of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray that Father Hamel was killed.
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It was precisely this need for unity that the President of the Republic insisted on on July 26, 2016, during his first speech after the terrorist attack on the square in front of the town hall of Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray.
Together with his Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve and Hubert Wulfran, Mayor François Hollande thanks all emergency and police services and continues: “The Catholics suffered, all the Catholics, but all the French felt the concern. That is why we must be in unity, as a whole, in a bloc that no one should split.“/
10 years later, the former president of the republic explains to us his fears for public order.
The risk when such drama occurs in a church, and this is indeed the intention of the Islamist terrorists sent there, is that there may be schism, confrontation, revenge and that elements may take a form of punishment.
François Hollande, President of the Republic (2012–2017)
The ex-head of state continues : “So it was absolutely necessary to show that we were united, that we were together and that there was an answer. Beyond religions, beyond sensitivities, to be together and cope, to provide both protection and to mark our solidarity so that we can begin. And it happened.”
On July 26, 2016, in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, François Hollande addressed the French a few hours after the terrorist attack that cost the life of Father Jacques Hamel.
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The investigation of the terrorist attack on July 26, 2016 was entrusted to the anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office. The identities of the two attackers and their path are soon revealed.
Adele Kermiche, 19, born and living in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, is known to police for having twice attempted to travel to Syria. He was then placed in Case S and spent 10 months in custody in Fleury-Mérogis. In March 2016, he was released with an electronic bracelet and placed under house arrest with his parents.
The second, Abdel Malik Petitjean, also 19 years old, comes from Aix-les-Bains (Savoie). In File S, since his attempt to leave for Syria in June 2016, he contacted Adel Kermiche via Telegram messaging and joined him in the Seine-Maritime on 23 July. Two days before the action was taken, they recorded a video together at Adel Kermiche’s house about their devotion to the Islamic State, which would be broadcast on Telegram the day after the attack.
Still from an ISIS allegiance video recorded by Adel Kermiche and Abdel Malik Petitjean on July 24, 2016.
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Asked about the failure of the intelligence services and the justice system since Adel Kermiche managed to carry out this attack while he was on an electronic bracelet and in File S, Francois Hollande disputes this.
“There is no failure of the intelligence services, since his identity was accurately identified. He was wearing a bracelet and had to go to the police station regularly. The work of the intelligence services and justice cannot be questioned“, answers the former head of state.
Call”ongoing disputes“During his mandate on Case S, François Hollande remembers this”we cannot arrest a person on the pretext that he is known to be radicalized. There is the rule of law. There is still a gap between radicalization and terrorism. Before we arrest someone, they must have done or attempted to do something.“.
VIDEO. Interview with François Hollande conducted by Emmanuel Partouche, Pierre Leonard and Maxime Benard:
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Ten years after the attack in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray, François Hollande recalls the events of July 26, 2016.
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©FTV / E. Partouche / P. Leonard / M. Benard / C. Leroy / S. Pearson
The attack on the Bataclan, on Charlie Hebdo, then in Nice, just 15 days before the murder of Hamel’s father. During his five-year term, François Hollande faced an unprecedented wave of terrorist attacks. He discusses with us the unusual nature of the acts committed in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray. The first is in a place of worship.
“For the first time, a priest was attacked as a priest, but, as I said, also as a representative of our national community.“, the former head of state clarified.
To attack a priest, to attack a rabbi, to attack an imam is to call into question religious freedom. That is why this crime especially symbolized the desire of the terrorists to get to us ourselves.
François Hollande, President of the Republic (2012–2017)
François Hollande explains that he spoke on July 26, 2016 with Pope Francis. Together they spoke about the need for fellowship between all believers, but also non-believers.”not only condemn what just happened, but also stay together and cope“.
A communion that also found a place in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray. The day after the attack in Yuri Gagarin Park, the municipality organized a large meeting attended by the general population, local elected officials and representatives of the Catholic, Muslim and Jewish faiths.
Gathering in Yuri Gagarin Park July 27, 2026
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On July 30, 2016, after prayers, about fifty Muslim worshipers attended a vigil in honor of Father Hamel at St. Teresa’s Church, adjacent to the mosque. On July 31, about a hundred people will gather at Rouen Cathedral.
On July 31, 2016, in Rouen, about a hundred Muslim believers joined the mass in honor of Father Jacques Hamel in the Rouen Cathedral.
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Today, it is precisely this ability to maintain unity that Francois Hollande wants to emphasize. The legacy of this dramatic event.
“We held on– he concludes. The population did not succumb to the spirit of split, disunity, and confrontation. Today we must have the same attitude. There are forces that want to move towards division. We want to move towards unity.“
The spirit of unity that the former President of the Republic intends to honor on July 26, 2026, during ceremonies commemorating the assassination of Father Hamel.