French media reported that five hostages were being held, and that a sixth escaped and raised the alarm. A priest, two nuns and two worshippers were reported to be among the hostages.
Firefighters told RTL that several people had been injured.
A security official told Associated Press that that the identities of the attackers and motive for the attack were unclear.
The French president, François Hollande, and the interior minister, Bernard Cazenevue, were en route to Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray, according to the official.
The hostage-taking comes with France on high alert after an attack in Nice that killed 84 people earlier this month.
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