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Trèbes siege: French prime minister says supermarket hostage situation likely a 'terrorist act' Trèbes siege: French President Macron calls supermarket attack an 'act of Islamist terror'
(about 3 hours later)
The French prime minister has said all evidence points to the now-ended hostage situation in southern France being a “terrorist act”. An attack on a supermarket in the south of France that left three dead and 16 injured was an "act of Islamist terror", the French President Emmanuel Macron has said.
Edouard Philippe’s assessment was later echoed by President Emmanuel Macron. France’s interior minister, Gérard Collomb, confirmed the attacker had been shot dead and said three other people had been killed. A gunman opened fire on a group of police officers, injuring one, before taking hostages in a branch of Super-U. The incident ended with armed police raiding the supermarket, shooting the assailant dead.
Mr Collomb identified the suspect as Redouane Lakdim, 26, a petty criminal and small-time drug dealer who he said was radicalised and under police surveillance. French authorities identified the suspect as Redouane Lakdim, 26, a petty criminal and small-time drug dealer who he said was radicalised and under police surveillance.
The gunman was reported to have taken up to eight hostages near Toulouse on Friday morning, and was killed by officers who stormed the Super U shop in Trèbes after 2pm local time. Witnesses said the man had entered the shop screaming “Allahu Akbar, I’ll kill you all”, before declaring allegiance to Isis and demanding the release of Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam.
AFP reported the gunman had claimed allegiance to Isis, while the BFM TV channel said he had demanded the release of Salah Abdeslam, who is suspected of being involved in the November 2015 Paris terror attack that killed 130 people. Isis later claimed the attacker was a "soldier of the Islamic State", without providing evidence of its involvement. Mr Macron said an investigation would establish whether the attack was directed or simply inspired by the terror group.
The town’s mayor Eric Menassi also told LCI TV that the man had entered the shop screaming “Allahu Akbar, I’ll kill you all”. "I want to tell the nation tonight of my absolute determination in leading this fight," Mr Macron said in an address, flanked by the prime minister.
Isis claimed responsibility for the attack through its propaganda agency. "I urge our fellow French citizens to remain aware of the terrorist threat, but to also be aware of the force and resistance our people demonstrated each and every time it was attacked."
The gunman was reported to have taken up to eight hostages near Toulouse on Friday morning, and was killed by officers who stormed the shop in Trèbes after 2pm local time.
Earlier on Friday in the nearby town of Carcassonne, a short drive away, at least one gunman opened fire on a group of police officers and wounded one, according to reports and the UNSA police union.Earlier on Friday in the nearby town of Carcassonne, a short drive away, at least one gunman opened fire on a group of police officers and wounded one, according to reports and the UNSA police union.
Yves Lefebvre, secretary general of the SGP Police-FO union, suggested the same person had been involved in both incidents. The suspect fired six shots at police officers on secondment from Marseilles who were out jogging, wounding one in the shoulder, he said.Yves Lefebvre, secretary general of the SGP Police-FO union, suggested the same person had been involved in both incidents. The suspect fired six shots at police officers on secondment from Marseilles who were out jogging, wounding one in the shoulder, he said.
He said the gunman had shot dead one person and seriously wounded another inside the supermarket, AP reported. It was also reported he had shot one person in Carcassonne.He said the gunman had shot dead one person and seriously wounded another inside the supermarket, AP reported. It was also reported he had shot one person in Carcassonne.
Mr Collomb also praised the “heroism” of a French police officer who offered himself up as a hostage swap during the attack and was subsequently seriously injured.  Prime Minister Edouard Collomb praised the “heroism” of a French police officer who offered himself up as a hostage swap during the attack and was subsequently seriously injured. 
He said the officer “volunteered to swap his place with a hostage” inside the Super U shop and stayed with the armed suspect. He managed to leave his cellphone switched on after the swap, establishing contact with officers outside the supermarket during the hours-long siege. He said the officer “volunteered to swap his place with a hostage” inside the Super U shop and stayed with the armed suspect. He managed to leave his cellphone switched on after the swap, establishing contact with officers outside the supermarket during the hours-long siege. 
Mr Collomb said elite French forces stormed the market and killed the gunman after hearing shots from inside. He did not say how or when the police officer was injured.Mr Collomb said elite French forces stormed the market and killed the gunman after hearing shots from inside. He did not say how or when the police officer was injured.
France has been on high alert since a string of Islamic extremist attacks in 2015 and 2016 that have killed more than 200 people.France has been on high alert since a string of Islamic extremist attacks in 2015 and 2016 that have killed more than 200 people.
Friday’s shootings took place in a normally quiet part of the counrty, where the main tourist attraction is the treasured old city of Carcassonne, its medieval walls and its summertime festivals. Friday’s shootings took place in a normally quiet part of the counrty, where the main tourist attraction is the treasured old city of Carcassonne, its medieval walls and its summertime festivals. 
Additional reporting by agenciesAdditional reporting by agencies