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Toulouse shootings: police arrest man and corner suspect in raid Toulouse shootings: police arrest man and corner suspect in raid
(about 1 hour later)
A man has been arrested over the Toulouse shootings and another is engaged in an armed standoff with police. Three officers were injured in a shootout during the swoop on a house in the southern French city on Wednesday morning, police said.A man has been arrested over the Toulouse shootings and another is engaged in an armed standoff with police. Three officers were injured in a shootout during the swoop on a house in the southern French city on Wednesday morning, police said.
Reports quoted police as saying the man barricaded inside the house had told them he wanted to avenge the deaths of Palestinian children. He was described as a French national with an Algerian mother. The man already arrested is said to be his brother.Reports quoted police as saying the man barricaded inside the house had told them he wanted to avenge the deaths of Palestinian children. He was described as a French national with an Algerian mother. The man already arrested is said to be his brother.
Heavily armed police in bulletproof vests and helmets cordoned off the residential area where the raid was taking place. Witnesses at the scene heard several shots at about 3.40am local time.Heavily armed police in bulletproof vests and helmets cordoned off the residential area where the raid was taking place. Witnesses at the scene heard several shots at about 3.40am local time.
The French interior minister, Claude Guéant, said in Toulouse the suspect "talks a lot" and was communicating with police officers through his front door, talking about his "engagements" with al-Qaida. The man's mother had been taken to the location and asked to reason with him, but she said she didn't want to, saying she had "no influence over him". The French interior minister, Claude Guéant, said in Toulouse the suspect "talks a lot" and was communicating with police officers through his front door, talking about his "engagements" with al-Qaida. The man's mother had been taken to the location and asked to reason with him, but said she did not want to and had "no influence over him".
Gueant said the man claimed to be a mujahedeen belonging to al-Qaida who wanted to "avenge the deaths of Palestinian children" and at the same time "attack the French army for its interventions abroad". There had been an exchange of gunfire with police and three officers had sustained minor injuries in the operation. Guéant said the man claimed to be a fighter belonging to al-Qaida who wanted to "avenge the deaths of Palestinian children" and at the same time "attack the French army for its interventions abroad". There had been an exchange of gunfire with police and three officers had sustained minor injuries in the operation.
Gueant said the suspect had links to people who described themselves as "Salafist or jihadist" and that he had in the past made trips to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Police were trying to establish a better line of communication with him. Guéant said the suspect had links to people who described themselves as "Salafist or jihadist" and that he had in the past made trips to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Police were trying to establish a better line of communication with him.
Authorities believe the gunman in Monday's school shooting was the same person responsible for killing three soldiers of North African origin in two shootings last week in Toulouse and the nearby town of Montauban. Authorities believe the gunman in Monday's school shooting was the same person responsible for killing three soldiers of north African origin in two shootings last week in Toulouse and the nearby town of Montauban.
A third soldier, of Caribbean origin, remains in a coma.A third soldier, of Caribbean origin, remains in a coma.
The same Colt 45 handgun was used in all three attacks and in each case the gunman arrived on a Yamaha scooter with his face hidden by a motorcycle helmet.The same Colt 45 handgun was used in all three attacks and in each case the gunman arrived on a Yamaha scooter with his face hidden by a motorcycle helmet.
On the leafy neighbouring streets, lined with smart houses with front gardens, residents were in shock. One local said he had spoken by phone to the couple who lived in the flat directly opposite the suspect. "They don't know what's going on, they are in their bedroom hiding under their bed, terrified. Just after 3am they heard a commotion, the man shouted down to the police 'I have seen you!' and began firing a gun. They don't know the man well, they said they just used to pass him on the stairwell." On the leafy neighbouring streets, lined with smart houses with front gardens, residents were in shock. One local said he had spoken by phone to the couple who lived in the flat directly opposite the suspect. "They don't know what's going on. They are in their bedroom hiding under their bed, terrified. Just after 3am they heard a commotion. The man shouted down to the police: 'I have seen you!' and began firing a gun. They don't know the man well. They said they just used to pass him on the stairwell."
One man who lived on the same block said he always said hello to the suspect in the past if he saw him on the stairwell but didn't know his name. He described him as appearing just a "normal" guy. He said he hadn't seen him for months. One man who lived on the same block said he had always said hello to the suspect in the past if he saw him on the stairwell but did not know his name. He described him as appearing to be just a "normal" guy. He said he had not seen him for months.
The French news channel BFM TV said the suspect was linked to an Islamist group that it identified as Forsane Alizza but it was not immediately possible to confirm this.The French news channel BFM TV said the suspect was linked to an Islamist group that it identified as Forsane Alizza but it was not immediately possible to confirm this.
The killings come five weeks before the first round of France's presidential elections in which immigration and Islam have been major themes as President Nicolas Sarkozy seeks to win over voters from far-right leader Marine Le Pen. The killings come five weeks before the first round of France's presidential elections in which immigration and Islam have been major themes as the president, Nicolas Sarkozy, seeks to win over voters from the far-right leader Marine Le Pen.