Priest’s killer was cleared to work as airport baggage handler

A French Islamic State fanatic who ended up murdering a Catholic priest “easily” passed a police investigation to become an airport baggage handler, it was revealed today.

Abdelmalik Petitjean and Adel Kermiche, both 19, were on terrorist watchlists when they slit Father Jacques Hamel’s throat in Normandy on Tuesday.

Now it has emerged that Petitjean worked full-time at Chambery airport in the Savoie region, which is used by more than 250,000 passengers a year including many Britons, until just three months ago.

He started as a porter there in December after completing his baccalaureate at the Marlioz high school in nearby Aix-les-Bains, where he lived.

There have been numerous security scares at French airports over the years, and all employees are now meant to undergo stringent tests.

“Petitjean had no trouble getting through a police investigation and psychological evaluation,” said a source. “He was considered to be a hard-working, friendly young man who did not pose any danger to passengers or others using the airport. He got through the police investigation easily.”

Petitjean left the airport in April, and in June was caught by Turkish intelligence services as he tried to join IS in Syria.

Last Friday a warning was issued that Petitjean was back in France and ready to strike, and police were desperately trying to find him when he killed Father Jacques.