Woman dead in attack on retirement home for monks and nuns

A woman was killed after a masked man burst into a retirement home for former missionaries near Montpellier, southern France, last night.

Her body was found gagged and tied up outside the building in Montferrier-sur-Lez. She had three stab wounds. Nobody else was hurt in the attack.

Le Figaro reports the intruder was armed with a knife and sawn-off shotgun.

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Another woman was also tied up and gagged but managed to free herself. Police found her "safe and sound, although in a state of considerable shock", said Montpellier state prosecutor Christophe Barret.

The victim's husband, named only as George, told France's RTL television channel he was "destroyed" by her death.

"She had no problems with anyone. She was kind towards everyone, always helpful," he added.

He also criticised security at the building. "There was no protection, no alarm, no security guard," he said.

It is thought the woman lived at the home. Its residents, who have an average age of 75, include nuns, monks and former missionaries.

Around 50 people were evacuated as gendarmes searched the home.

A police manhunt continued through the night as drivers were stopped and their vehicles searched, reports local Midi Libre website. There were tailbacks of more than half a mile as people headed to work this morning.

France has been hit by an unprecedented wave of terrorist attacks over the past two years, killing 238 people, including a priest murdered while celebrating mass in a suburb of Rouen in July. However, sources close to the investigation say there is no indication this attack is terror-related.