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Raid on Toulouse shooting suspect Raid on Toulouse shooting suspect
(40 minutes later)
Police hunting a gunman suspected of killing seven people in southern France have surrounded a house in Toulouse. Police hunting a gunman suspected of killing seven people in southern France have surrounded a flat in Toulouse.
The 24-year-old Frenchman from Toulouse has said he belongs to al-Qaeda, Interior Minister Claude Gueant said. The man, named as Mohammed Merah, 24, a Frenchman of Algerian origin, has said he belongs to al-Qaeda and acted to "avenge Palestinian children".
Police are now negotiating with the man, who said he acted in "revenge for Palestinian children" and French military operations abroad. Police are negotiating with the man, who is still said to be armed but says he may give himself up this afternoon.
Two police officers were injured in exchanges of fire during the raid and the suspect's brother is under arrest. Two police officers were injured in exchanges of fire during the raid and there are reports of a fresh blast.
The man's mother, who is Algerian, has been brought to the scene, but Mr Gueant said she had refused to become involved as "she had little influence on him". The suspect's brother is under arrest.
The suspect's mother, who is Algerian, has been brought to the scene, but Interior Minister Claude Gueant, who is in attendance, said she had refused to become involved as "she had little influence on him".
The minister said the suspect had made several visits to Afghanistan and Pakistan.The minister said the suspect had made several visits to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"He claims to be a mujahideen and to belong to al-Qaeda," Mr Gueant said."He claims to be a mujahideen and to belong to al-Qaeda," Mr Gueant said.
"He wanted revenge for the Palestinian children and he also wanted to take revenge on the French army because of its foreign interventions.""He wanted revenge for the Palestinian children and he also wanted to take revenge on the French army because of its foreign interventions."
The man shot at the door after police arrived, Mr Gueant said, injuring one officer in the knee and "lightly injuring" another.The man shot at the door after police arrived, Mr Gueant said, injuring one officer in the knee and "lightly injuring" another.
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". The man has thrown one gun, a Colt 45, from a window, Mr Gueant said, but it is believed he has other weapons.
French media have linked the suspect to a group called Forsane Alizza (Knights of Pride) that was banned by Mr Gueant last month. The minister said: "Our main concern is to catch him and to catch him under such conditions that he can be brought to justice."
They also say the suspect had earlier been arrested in Kandahar, Afghanistan, for unspecified but not terrorist-related criminal acts. One official told Agence France-Presse news agency 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".
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 sent to his first victim about buying a scooter. French media have linked the suspect to a group called Forsane Alizza (Knights of Pride) that was banned by Mr Gueant in January.
They also say the suspect had earlier been arrested in Kandahar, Afghanistan, for unspecified, but not terrorist-related, criminal acts and also has a criminal record in France.
The BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris says investigators report that the suspect was identified because of an e-mail message sent to his first victim about buying a scooter.
The message, sent from the suspect's brother's account, set up an appointment at which the soldier was killed, sources told AFP.The message, sent from the suspect's brother's account, set up an appointment at which the soldier was killed, sources told AFP.
The man had also sought out a garage in Toulouse to have his Yamaha scooter repainted after the first two attacks. A scooter was used in all the attacks.The man had also sought out a garage in Toulouse to have his Yamaha scooter repainted after the first two attacks. A scooter was used in all the attacks.
Our correspondent says the house in Toulouse is a five-storey block of flats and the man is on the ground or first floor.Our correspondent says the house in Toulouse is a five-storey block of flats and the man is on the ground or first floor.
Police wearing helmets and flak jackets have cordoned off the area and prosecutors say other operations are under way to track down possible accomplices.Police wearing helmets and flak jackets have cordoned off the area and prosecutors say other operations are under way to track down possible accomplices.
The brother was reportedly arrested in another part of Toulouse and a second brother has attended a police station, French media say.The brother was reportedly arrested in another part of Toulouse and a second brother has attended a police station, French media say.
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.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.
Memorial servicesMemorial services
The funerals of the rabbi and three children killed on Monday are due in Jerusalem in the coming hours. The funerals of the rabbi and three children killed on Monday are under way in Jerusalem.
Israeli police said they expected thousands of people to attend.Israeli police said they expected thousands of people to attend.
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.Their bodies were carried out of Ozar Hatorah school on Tuesday in two black hearses and taken to a nearby airport.
A military jet then flew them to Paris, from where they were placed on a commercial flight to Tel Aviv. 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.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has accompanied the relatives of the dead to the funerals in Jerusalem.French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has accompanied the relatives of the dead to the funerals in Jerusalem.
Also on Wednesday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to attend a memorial service for the three soldiers killed in the two attacks last week.Also on Wednesday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to attend a memorial service for the three soldiers killed in the two attacks last week.
All three were of North African descent. Another soldier from the French overseas region of Guadeloupe was left critically ill.All three were of North African descent. Another soldier from the French overseas region of Guadeloupe was left critically ill.
Socialist presidential candidate Francois Hollande and Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right Front National, will attend the memorial service in Montauban.Socialist presidential candidate Francois Hollande and Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right Front National, will attend the memorial service in Montauban.
After Wednesday's raid took place, Ms Le Pen said the "fundamentalist threat has been underestimated" in France.After Wednesday's raid took place, Ms Le Pen said the "fundamentalist threat has been underestimated" in France.
Are you in the area near the raid? Have you been affected by the shootings or the heightened security measures? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you in the area near the raid? Have you been affected by the shootings or the heightened security measures? Send us your comments using the form below.
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