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Police in pre-dawn raid on Toulouse shooting suspect Police in pre-dawn raid on Toulouse shooting suspect
(40 minutes later)
French police searching for a gunman who shot dead four people at a Jewish school in Toulouse have surrounded a house in the north of the city. Police hunting a gunman suspected of killing seven people in southern France have surrounded a house in Toulouse.
The man inside the building where the operation is taking place has claimed affiliation to al-Qaeda, Interior Minister Claude Gueant told reporters. The 24-year-old Frenchman from Toulouse has said he belongs to al-Qaeda, Interior Minister Claude Gueant said.
Two police officers are reported injured in several exchanges of fire. Police are now negotiating with the man, who said he acted in "revenge for Palestinian children" and French military operations abroad.
The man's mother has been brought to the scene, Mr Gueant said, and his brother is under arrest. Two police officers were injured in exchanges of fire during the raid and the suspect's brother is under arrest.
"The suspect's mother... was asked to make contact with her son, to reason with him, but she did not want to, saying she had little influence on him," Mr Gueant said. The man's mother has been brought to the scene, but Mr Gueant said she had refused to become involved as "she had little influence on him".
Mr Gueant told French TV that the man informed police he wanted to "avenge Palestinian children". The minister said the suspect had made several visits to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The suspect also denounced French "crimes" in Afghanistan. "He claims to be a mujahideen and to belong to al-Qaeda," Mr Gueant said.
"He [the suspect] was in the DCRI's sights, as were others, after the first two attacks," an unnamed official told Agence France-Presse, referring to France's domestic intelligence service. "He wanted revenge for the Palestinian children and he also wanted to take revenge on the French army because of its foreign interventions."
"Then the criminal investigation police brought in crucial evidence," the official added. One official told Agence France-Presse the suspect had been "in the sights" of France's intelligence agency after the first two attacks, after which police had brought in more "crucial evidence".
Police wearing helmets and flak jackets have cordoned off the residential area of Toulouse where the raid is happening, an eyewitness told the Liberation newspaper. The BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris says investigators report the suspect's first name as Mohamed and that he was identified because of an email message he sent to his first victim.
Prosecutors said other operations were underway to track down possible accomplices. Our correspondent says the house in Toulouse is a five-storey block of flats and the man is on the ground or first floor.
Other emergency services are also in attendance. Police wearing helmets and flak jackets have cordoned off the area and prosecutors say other operations are under way to track down possible accomplices. Other emergency services are also in attendance.
A huge manhunt has been under way in France amid fears the killer may strike again, after Monday's shooting, and the killing of three soldiers last week. A huge manhunt had been launched after Monday's shooting at a Jewish school that left four people dead, and the killing of three soldiers in two incidents last week.
FuneralsFunerals
Meanwhile, the funerals of the rabbi and three children killed in Monday's attack are due in Jerusalem in the coming hours.Meanwhile, the funerals of the rabbi and three children killed in Monday's attack are due in Jerusalem in the coming hours.
Israeli police said they expected thousands of people to attend.Israeli police said they expected thousands of people to attend.
Also on Wednesday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to attend a memorial service for three soldiers killed in two attacks last week which police have linked to the Toulouse shootings.Also on Wednesday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to attend a memorial service for three soldiers killed in two attacks last week which police have linked to the Toulouse shootings.
The same gun and the same scooter were used in all the attacks. All three soldiers killed were of North African descent. Another soldier from the French overseas region of Guadeloupe was left critically ill.The same gun and the same scooter were used in all the attacks. All three soldiers killed were of North African descent. Another soldier from the French overseas region of Guadeloupe was left critically ill.
The attacker gunned down Jonathan Sandler, a 30-year-old rabbi and teacher of religion, his two young sons Arieh and Gabriel and then - at point blank range - the head teacher's daughter, seven-year-old Myriam Monsonego, in Monday's attack at a Jewish school in Toulouse.The attacker gunned down Jonathan Sandler, a 30-year-old rabbi and teacher of religion, his two young sons Arieh and Gabriel and then - at point blank range - the head teacher's daughter, seven-year-old Myriam Monsonego, in Monday's attack at a Jewish school in Toulouse.
Their bodies were carried out of Ozar Hatorah school on Tuesday in two black hearses and taken to a nearby airport, reported AFP.Their bodies were carried out of Ozar Hatorah school on Tuesday in two black hearses and taken to a nearby airport, reported AFP.
A military jet then flew them to Paris, from where they were placed on a commercial flight to Tel Aviv, AFP said. They have now arrived in Israel.A military jet then flew them to Paris, from where they were placed on a commercial flight to Tel Aviv, AFP said. They have now arrived in Israel.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe was to accompany the relatives of the dead to the funerals in Jerusalem.French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe was to accompany the relatives of the dead to the funerals in Jerusalem.
Scarlet alert
Mr Sarkozy and the Socialist presidential candidate Francois Hollande will attend the memorial service in Montauban for the three soldiers killed in last week's attacks.Mr Sarkozy and the Socialist presidential candidate Francois Hollande will attend the memorial service in Montauban for the three soldiers killed in last week's attacks.
Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right Front National, will also be at the service.Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right Front National, will also be at the service.
She is often associated with the more controversial debates on immigration and her presence will be closely observed in light of recent events, reports the BBC's Christian Fraser in Toulouse.She is often associated with the more controversial debates on immigration and her presence will be closely observed in light of recent events, reports the BBC's Christian Fraser in Toulouse.
Scarlet alert
On Tuesday schools across France held a moment's silence to remember the victims of the killer, whom President France Sarkozy branded a "monster".On Tuesday schools across France held a moment's silence to remember the victims of the killer, whom President France Sarkozy branded a "monster".
It is the first time in the country's history that the national terror alert has been raised to "scarlet", its highest level.It is the first time in the country's history that the national terror alert has been raised to "scarlet", its highest level.
The measure enables the authorities to disrupt daily life and implement sweeping security measures. These include mixed police-military patrols and powers to suspend public transport and close schools. The measure enables the authorities to disrupt daily life and implement sweeping security measures.
Mr Gueant has said the killer had a camera strapped to his chest and may have filmed the shootings.Mr Gueant has said the killer had a camera strapped to his chest and may have filmed the shootings.