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| French jihadist murders police couple at Magnanville | French jihadist murders police couple at Magnanville |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The murder of two French police officials by a man claiming allegiance to so-called Islamic State (IS) is "unquestionably a terrorist act", President Francois Hollande says. | The murder of two French police officials by a man claiming allegiance to so-called Islamic State (IS) is "unquestionably a terrorist act", President Francois Hollande says. |
| A police commander and his partner were stabbed to death at their home west of Paris. Their three-year-old survived. | A police commander and his partner were stabbed to death at their home west of Paris. Their three-year-old survived. |
| The attacker was killed in an police assault on the house. | The attacker was killed in an police assault on the house. |
| He had spent time in jail over jihadist links and had a list of targets including public figures, police say. | He had spent time in jail over jihadist links and had a list of targets including public figures, police say. |
| Named by French sources as Larossi Abballa, he had also been under recent police surveillance, including a wiretap, say media reports quoting police sources. | Named by French sources as Larossi Abballa, he had also been under recent police surveillance, including a wiretap, say media reports quoting police sources. |
| Paris Prosecutor Francois Molin said that Abballa had pledged his loyalty to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi during negotiations prior to the police assault on Monday, and had stated that he was answering his call "to kill infidels". | Paris Prosecutor Francois Molin said that Abballa had pledged his loyalty to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi during negotiations prior to the police assault on Monday, and had stated that he was answering his call "to kill infidels". |
| Three people linked to the man were arrested and placed in custody, he said. | |
| Police say the man lay in wait outside the policeman's house on Monday evening before the ambush took place at around 20:30 (18:30 GMT). After the murder he went inside the house and killed the policeman's wife, and held their three-year-old son hostage. | Police say the man lay in wait outside the policeman's house on Monday evening before the ambush took place at around 20:30 (18:30 GMT). After the murder he went inside the house and killed the policeman's wife, and held their three-year-old son hostage. |
| Abballa, 25, was shot and killed when police entered the couple's home in Magnanville at about midnight, hours after he posted a 13-minute video on Facebook Live in which he swore allegiance to IS. | Abballa, 25, was shot and killed when police entered the couple's home in Magnanville at about midnight, hours after he posted a 13-minute video on Facebook Live in which he swore allegiance to IS. |
| In the video, he was shown considering what to do with their son, according to French jihad expert David Thomson, who watched it. | In the video, he was shown considering what to do with their son, according to French jihad expert David Thomson, who watched it. |
| "I don't know yet what I'm going to do with him," the killer is heard saying. | "I don't know yet what I'm going to do with him," the killer is heard saying. |
| In the video, he also made a threatening reference to the Euro 2016 football tournament. | In the video, he also made a threatening reference to the Euro 2016 football tournament. |
| Two Facebook accounts linked to Abballa were suspended on Tuesday morning. | Two Facebook accounts linked to Abballa were suspended on Tuesday morning. |
| Police also discovered a list of six people who the suspect wished to target on his computer, reported iTELE - including two public personalities. | Police also discovered a list of six people who the suspect wished to target on his computer, reported iTELE - including two public personalities. |
| Mr Molins said the list included "rappers, journalists, police and public figures". | Mr Molins said the list included "rappers, journalists, police and public figures". |
| Abballa lived in nearby Mantes-La-Jolie and was convicted in 2013 of "criminal association with the aim of preparing terrorist acts". | Abballa lived in nearby Mantes-La-Jolie and was convicted in 2013 of "criminal association with the aim of preparing terrorist acts". |
| He was sentenced to a three-year term in prison, of which six months were suspended, for recruiting fighters for jihad in Pakistan. | He was sentenced to a three-year term in prison, of which six months were suspended, for recruiting fighters for jihad in Pakistan. |
| The IS-linked Amaq news agency claimed an IS "fighter" had carried out the attack. | The IS-linked Amaq news agency claimed an IS "fighter" had carried out the attack. |
| France has been under a state of emergency since the Paris attacks of 13 November 2015 in which 130 people died. | France has been under a state of emergency since the Paris attacks of 13 November 2015 in which 130 people died. |
| That state of emergency is still in place with France on high alert as it hosts the Euro championship, which started last Friday. | That state of emergency is still in place with France on high alert as it hosts the Euro championship, which started last Friday. |
| Le Parisien reports that the 42-year-old policeman, named as Jean-Baptiste S, was deputy chief of judicial police at Les Mureaux police station, near their home. It says (in French) he was previously stationed at the police station of Mantes-la-Jolie, where Abballa lived. | Le Parisien reports that the 42-year-old policeman, named as Jean-Baptiste S, was deputy chief of judicial police at Les Mureaux police station, near their home. It says (in French) he was previously stationed at the police station of Mantes-la-Jolie, where Abballa lived. |
| President Hollande said he and his 36-year-old partner, Jessica S, were "murdered in cowardly fashion". | President Hollande said he and his 36-year-old partner, Jessica S, were "murdered in cowardly fashion". |
| "It's unquestionably a terrorist act," Mr Hollande said, stressing that France was still "facing a very significant terrorist threat". | "It's unquestionably a terrorist act," Mr Hollande said, stressing that France was still "facing a very significant terrorist threat". |
| Earlier, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said more than 100 people seen as potential threats had been arrested in France this year, including in recent weeks. | Earlier, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said more than 100 people seen as potential threats had been arrested in France this year, including in recent weeks. |
| 'Loud explosions' | 'Loud explosions' |
| French prosecutors have launched an anti-terror investigation into the incident. | French prosecutors have launched an anti-terror investigation into the incident. |
| Witnesses say that the knife-wielding man may have shouted "Allahu akbar" (God is great) when he ambushed the policeman, who was not in uniform, outside his home. | Witnesses say that the knife-wielding man may have shouted "Allahu akbar" (God is great) when he ambushed the policeman, who was not in uniform, outside his home. |
| The attacker then barricaded himself inside the house, where the police officer's partner and child were present. | The attacker then barricaded himself inside the house, where the police officer's partner and child were present. |
| Interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said France's elite police Raid unit was brought in at about 21:00. | Interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said France's elite police Raid unit was brought in at about 21:00. |
| Mr Brandet said negotiations were unsuccessful and a decision was made to "launch an assault" at about midnight. | Mr Brandet said negotiations were unsuccessful and a decision was made to "launch an assault" at about midnight. |
| Witnesses reported hearing loud explosions as the officers from the Raid unit moved in. | Witnesses reported hearing loud explosions as the officers from the Raid unit moved in. |
| "This commander, this police officer was killed by the individual... [and] we discovered the body of a woman," Mr Brandet told reporters. | "This commander, this police officer was killed by the individual... [and] we discovered the body of a woman," Mr Brandet told reporters. |
| "The assailant, the criminal was killed. Thankfully, a little boy was saved. He is safe and sound." | "The assailant, the criminal was killed. Thankfully, a little boy was saved. He is safe and sound." |
| Magnanville is about 55km (35 miles) north-west of the French capital. | Magnanville is about 55km (35 miles) north-west of the French capital. |