This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/trebes-hostage-supermarket-armed-siege-terror-france-carcassonne-police-shooting-a8269981.html
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Trèbes siege: French President Macron calls supermarket attack an 'act of Islamist terror' | Trèbes siege: French President Macron calls supermarket attack an 'act of Islamist terror' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An attack on a supermarket in the south of France that left three dead and 16 injured was an “act of Islamist terror”, French President Emmanuel Macron has said. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | |
| “I want to tell the nation tonight of my absolute determination in leading this fight,” Mr Macron said in an address, flanked by French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe. | |
| “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 supermarket 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. |
| Interior Minister Gérard 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 killed more than 200 people. | |
| Friday’s shootings took place in a normally quiet part of the country, where the main tourist attraction is the treasured old city of Carcassonne, its medieval walls and its summertime festivals. | |
| Additional reporting by agencies | Additional reporting by agencies |