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French gunman siege 'nearing end' | |
(40 minutes later) | |
The siege of a gunman suspected of seven killings in southern France is nearing its end, police sources say. | |
Three loud explosions were heard from the apartment block in the city of Toulouse at about 09:30 GMT, with reports police are now inside the flat. | |
The siege of the building where Mohammed Merah, 23, is holed up has lasted more than a day. | |
Interior Minister Claude Gueant had said Merah wanted to die "gun in hand" and there was no contact overnight. | |
It was not certain he was alive, Mr Gueant said. | |
Agence France-Presse quoted police sources as saying that officers were moving step-by-step through the flat, wary of booby-traps, and as yet there was no sign of Merah. | |
Mr Gueant earlier told French radio: "We have one priority: to take him alive so that he can surrender to face justice. We hope he is still alive." | |
However, he said it was "quite strange that he did not react" to the explosions that were set off overnight to intimidate Merah. | However, he said it was "quite strange that he did not react" to the explosions that were set off overnight to intimidate Merah. |
"We heard two shots, we don't know what they were," Mr Gueant said. | "We heard two shots, we don't know what they were," Mr Gueant said. |
"Despite redoubled efforts throughout the night, there has been no contact with him." | "Despite redoubled efforts throughout the night, there has been no contact with him." |
A number of explosions, beginning late on Wednesday, had prompted deputy mayor Jean-Pierre Havrin to tell local media that "negotiations have finished and the assault has begun". | A number of explosions, beginning late on Wednesday, had prompted deputy mayor Jean-Pierre Havrin to tell local media that "negotiations have finished and the assault has begun". |
However, sources from the French interior ministry later said this was only the start of an operation to put pressure on Merah. | However, sources from the French interior ministry later said this was only the start of an operation to put pressure on Merah. |
"[The blasts] were moves to intimidate the gunman, who seems to have changed his mind and does not want to surrender," interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet told Reuters. | "[The blasts] were moves to intimidate the gunman, who seems to have changed his mind and does not want to surrender," interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet told Reuters. |
Merah had given conflicting messages about surrendering. | |
Anti-terror chief Francois Molins had said: "He's explained that he's not suicidal, he doesn't have the soul of a martyr and he prefers to kill but to stay alive himself." | Anti-terror chief Francois Molins had said: "He's explained that he's not suicidal, he doesn't have the soul of a martyr and he prefers to kill but to stay alive himself." |
Officials said Merah was armed with a Kalashnikov high-velocity rifle, a mini-Uzi 9mm machine pistol, several handguns and possibly grenades. | |
Street lights were switched off in the vicinity of the building on Wednesday evening. | Street lights were switched off in the vicinity of the building on Wednesday evening. |
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The five-storey block of flats has been evacuated, and police also moved residents from nearby buildings. | The five-storey block of flats has been evacuated, and police also moved residents from nearby buildings. |
Police had surrounded Merah's building after two officers were shot at when they tried to get into his flat early on Wednesday morning. | Police had surrounded Merah's building after two officers were shot at when they tried to get into his flat early on Wednesday morning. |
Elsewhere in the city, police are hunting for accomplices and have detained several members of Merah's family. | Elsewhere in the city, police are hunting for accomplices and have detained several members of Merah's family. |
Mr Molins said on Wednesday that Merah had planned to kill again. | Mr Molins said on Wednesday that Merah had planned to kill again. |
"If he's telling the truth, he would have left his house this morning and he would have once again killed any soldier that he came across," he said. | "If he's telling the truth, he would have left his house this morning and he would have once again killed any soldier that he came across," he said. |
Mr Molins said the suspect had expressed no regret for the killings, but had said he wanted to kill more people and "bring France to its knees". | Mr Molins said the suspect had expressed no regret for the killings, but had said he wanted to kill more people and "bring France to its knees". |
Merah has said he acted to "avenge Palestinian children". | Merah has said he acted to "avenge Palestinian children". |
He claimed to have received al-Qaeda training in Pakistan's Waziristan area, and also said he had been to Afghanistan. | He claimed to have received al-Qaeda training in Pakistan's Waziristan area, and also said he had been to Afghanistan. |
Mr Gueant defended intelligence services for not preventing the attacks, describing Merah as a "lone wolf". | Mr Gueant defended intelligence services for not preventing the attacks, describing Merah as a "lone wolf". |
"The domestic intelligence agency tracks a lot of people who are involved in Islamist radicalism. Expressing ideas... is not enough to bring someone before justice," Mr Gueant said. | "The domestic intelligence agency tracks a lot of people who are involved in Islamist radicalism. Expressing ideas... is not enough to bring someone before justice," Mr Gueant said. |
Christian Etelin, a lawyer who has previously acted for Merah, said his client had violent tendencies. | Christian Etelin, a lawyer who has previously acted for Merah, said his client had violent tendencies. |
"There was his religious engagement, an increasing hatred against the values of a democratic society and a desire to impose what he believes is truth," Mr Etelin said. | "There was his religious engagement, an increasing hatred against the values of a democratic society and a desire to impose what he believes is truth," Mr Etelin said. |
He also denied earlier reports that Merah had been jailed for explosives offensives in Afghanistan, saying his client was in jail in France for robbery with violence at the time - from December 2007 to September 2009. | He also denied earlier reports that Merah had been jailed for explosives offensives in Afghanistan, saying his client was in jail in France for robbery with violence at the time - from December 2007 to September 2009. |
Emotional funeral | Emotional funeral |
The killings took place in and around Toulouse in three separate incidents earlier this month. | The killings took place in and around Toulouse in three separate incidents earlier this month. |
On 11 March, a soldier was shot and killed while waiting to see a man about selling his motorcycle. | On 11 March, a soldier was shot and killed while waiting to see a man about selling his motorcycle. |
Days later, two soldiers were shot and killed and a third was wounded while waiting at a cash machine. | Days later, two soldiers were shot and killed and a third was wounded while waiting at a cash machine. |
Then earlier this week, three children and an adult were shot and killed outside a Jewish school. | Then earlier this week, three children and an adult were shot and killed outside a Jewish school. |
The four Jewish victims were buried in an emotional funeral in Jerusalem on Wednesday. | The four Jewish victims were buried in an emotional funeral in Jerusalem on Wednesday. |
Also on Wednesday, President Nicolas Sarkozy attended a memorial for the three murdered soldiers at a military base in Montauban near Toulouse. | Also on Wednesday, President Nicolas Sarkozy attended a memorial for the three murdered soldiers at a military base in Montauban near Toulouse. |
Are you in Toulouse? How is the siege affecting the city? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Toulouse? How is the siege affecting the city? Send us your comments using the form below. |