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French police chief's killing a 'terrorist act' French police officials' murder 'is terrorism' - Hollande
(about 2 hours later)
The attack on a policeman and his partner by a man claiming allegiance to so-called Islamic State is a "terrorist act", France's interior minister says. The murder of two police officials by a man claiming allegiance to so-called Islamic State (IS) is "unquestionably a terrorist act", President Francois Hollande says.
The man stabbed the officer to death and took a woman and child hostage in their home in Magnanville, near Paris, before being killed by police. A police commander was stabbed to death before his partner - also a police employee - and a child were taken hostage in their home near Paris.
The partner was found dead but the child was rescued. The partner was later found dead but the three-year-old boy survived.
French media say the attacker had been sentenced in 2013 for involvement with jihadist groups with links to Pakistan. The attacker had spent time in jail over links to jihadist groups.
Unnamed sources identified him as 25-year-old Larossi Abballa, who lived in nearby Mantes-La-Jolie and was convicted for "criminal association with the aim of preparing terrorist acts". He was killed during the police assault on the couple's home in Magnanville, hours after posting a 13-minute live video on Facebook in which he swore allegiance to IS.
He was sentenced to a three-year term, with six months suspended, they said. Named by French sources as 25-year-old Larossi Abballa, the couple's killer was apparently shown considering what to do with their son, according to French jihad expert David Thomson, who saw the video.
Islamic State's Amaq news agency said an IS "fighter" carried out the attack. "I don't know yet what I'm going to do with him," the killer is heard saying. Two Facebook accounts linked to Abballa were suspended on Tuesday morning.
If that is confirmed, it would be the first militant attack in France since a state of emergency was imposed following last November's attacks which left 130 dead in Paris. Abballa lived in nearby Mantes-La-Jolie and was convicted in 2013 of "criminal association with the aim of preparing terrorist acts".
And it happens as the country is in high alert as it hosts the Euro football championship, which started on Friday. He was sentenced to a three-year term in prison, of which six months were suspended, for recruiting fighters for jihad in Pakistan.
"An appalling terrorist act was committed yesterday in Magnanville by an individual who attacked a police officer and his wife, who was herself an official in a police station," Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said. The IS-linked Amaq news agency said an Islamic State "fighter" had carried out the attack.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting held by President Francois Hollande, Mr Cazeneuve said more than 100 people seen as potential threats have been arrested in France this year, including in recent weeks. 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 2016 football championship, which started last Friday.
President Hollande said the 42-year-old policeman, named as Jean-Baptiste S, 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".
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 quoted by AFP said that the knife-wielding man may have shouted "Allahu akbar" (God is greater) when he attacked the 42-year-old policeman, who was not in uniform, outside his home. Witnesses said that the knife-wielding man may have shouted "Allahu akbar" (God is great) when he attacked the policeman, who was not in uniform, outside his home.
The attacker then went inside the house and took the woman, who was also a police officer, and a child hostage. The attacker then went inside the house and took his partner and child hostage.
He is reported to have claimed allegiance to IS while talking to police negotiators. Interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said France's elite police Raid unit was brought in after the officer's killer took the hostages at around 21:00 (19:00 GMT).
Interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said France's elite police Raid unit was brought in after the officer's killer took hostages at around 21:00 (19:00 GMT). Mr Brandet said negotiations were unsuccessful and a decision had been made to "launch an assault" at about midnight.
He said negotiations had been unsuccessful and a decision had been 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. The assailant, the criminal was killed. Thankfully, a little boy was saved. He is safe and sound," Mr Brandet told reporters."This commander, this police officer was killed by the individual... (and) we discovered the body of a woman. The assailant, the criminal was killed. Thankfully, a little boy was saved. He is safe and sound," Mr Brandet told reporters.
The victims have not yet been named. Magnanville is about 55 km (35 miles) north-west of the French capital. Magnanville is about 55 km (35 miles) north-west of the French capital.