Marine Le Pen advances in French election after calling for ban of Islamic "preachers of hate"

French Presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has advanced to the second round of the elections after calling for the expulsion of "Islamic preachers of hate" and the closure of their mosques.

Le Pen, who is running for the French National Front political party, won Sunday's election with only two points behind centrist Emmanuel Macron, who was also declared the winner with around 23 percent, The Telegraph reported.

The two candidates will be facing each other in the second round of the French elections on May 7.

On Friday, Le Pen called for the expulsion of Islamic hate preachers and the closure of their mosques following the shooting of a police officer in Paris on Thursday.

"Our country France has once again had the barbarity of a terrorist assault in the heart of our capital. Once again it was the police who were targeted and paid for the fight against radical Islam with their blood. It is a monstrous ideology which has declared war on our nation, on our reason, and on our civilization," the Front Nationalist leader said.

"The Islamist, Salafist ideology has no right to be in France and should be banned. Preachers of hate should be expelled and their mosques closed," she added.

Le Pen also recommended the expulsion of those with dual nationalities who are considered to be a terror risk and give "immediate administrative or criminal attention" to French citizens that are known to have expressed their support for an "enemy ideology."

French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve denounced Le Pen's statements and accused her of exploiting the people's fear and emotion for her political ends.

ISIS took credit for Thursday's attack that was carried out by 39-year-old Karim Cheurfi, who was previously convicted of attempted murder.

Cheurfi, who carried a note defending ISIS in his pocket as well as addresses of police stations, was shot dead as he tried to escape.

Telegraph reported that there had been a modest increase in support for Le Pen following the attack. U.S. President Donald Trump said that her chances of victory improved after the shooting because of her tough stance in securing France's borders.

According to CNN, French authorities launched an investigation on Cheurfi last month after they learned about his attempts to contact an ISIS fighter in Syria and Iraq.

President Francois Hollande condemned the attack as a "cowardly killing," adding that he was certain that it was an act of terror.

"We shall be of the utmost vigilance, especially in relation to the election," the president said.