According to a French television network, a priest, two sisters and churchgoers are among those held.
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He said the church was surrounded by France’s anti-gang brigade the BRI, which specialises in kidnappings, and that “the two assailants came out and were killed by police”.
Police appealed on social media for those at the scene not to take pictures or disturb the work of officers there.
The Vatican said in a statement: “We are particularly struck because this disgusting violence has occurred in a church – a sacred place where we pronounce God’s love – with the barbaric murder of a priest and worshippers affected”.
In an official statement, France’s President Hollande called the attack a “terrorist act”, and said the attackers claimed a connection to IS.
French Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet arrives at the scene.
Interior Ministry spokesperson Brandet confirmed one of the hostages had been killed and said another was in critical condition. There are also unconfirmed reports that one of the policemen was injured during the operation to end the siege.
France is now on high alert after an attack in Nice on Bastille Day – July 14 – that killed 84 people and a string of deadly attacks previous year claimed by the Islamic State group that killed 147 victims. “The only arms which the Catholic Church can take up are prayer and brotherhood between men”.
France has been under a state of emergency since the Paris terror attacks in November past year.
Shots were fired a few minutes later by BRI police and, according to local police sources, “both men have now been neutralised”.
Michot, a baker who spoke to CNN from inside the police perimeter, said he heard several rifle bursts at about 10 a.m.
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A police source said the priest of the Saint-Etienne church was killed.
