This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-europe-17469878
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 12 | Version 13 |
|---|---|
| France shootings: Siege of gunman 'nearing end' | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The siege of a gunman suspected of seven killings in southern France is nearing its end, police sources say. | The siege of a gunman suspected of seven killings in southern France is nearing its end, police sources say. |
| Gunfire was heard near the apartment block in the city of Toulouse, with reports police had met resistance but that the suspect was now dead. | |
| The siege of the building where Mohammed Merah, 23, is holed up has lasted more than a day. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| previous slide next slide | previous slide next slide |
| 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. |