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French police officials' murder 'is terrorism' - Hollande | French police officials' murder 'is terrorism' - Hollande |
(35 minutes later) | |
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 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. |
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. | 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 later found dead but the three-year-old boy survived. | The partner was later found dead but the three-year-old boy survived. |
The attacker had spent time in jail over links to jihadist groups. | The attacker had spent time in jail over links to jihadist groups. |
Two people linked to the man, named by French sources as Larossi Abballa, have been arrested and placed in custody. | |
Abballa, 25, 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. | |
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. | |
"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. | "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. |
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 said an Islamic State "fighter" had carried out the attack. | The IS-linked Amaq news agency said an Islamic State "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 2016 football championship, which started last Friday. | 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." | 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". | "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 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. | 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 his partner and child hostage. | The attacker then went inside the house and took his partner and child hostage. |
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 the hostages at around 21:00 (19:00 GMT). |
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. 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. |
Magnanville is about 55km (35 miles) north-west of the French capital. |