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Toulouse siege enters second day French gun suspect 'wants to die'
(40 minutes later)
The police siege of a building in the southern French city of Toulouse, where a man suspected of killing seven people is holed up, has entered a second day. A gunman suspected of seven killings in southern France has told police laying siege to his flat in Toulouse that he wants to die "weapons in hand", Interior Minister Claude Gueant says.
Police set off explosions at regular intervals overnight to increase the pressure on Mohammed Merah. Mr Gueant said there had been no contact overnight with Mohammed Merah and it was not certain he was alive.
The heavily armed 23-year-old had earlier indicated he would surrender. Police set off regular explosions overnight to increase the pressure on 23-year-old Merah.
Merah is suspected of killing four people at a Jewish school last Monday and three soldiers in two attacks last week. He is suspected of killing seven people in three separate attacks.
The first blasts, late on Wednesday, prompted deputy mayor Jean-Pierre Havrin to tell local media that "negotiations have finished and the assault has begun". The siege is now in its second day.
Mr Gueant said: "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.
"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."
The first blasts, set off 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 beginning of an operation to put pressure on Merah.However, sources from the French interior ministry later said this was only the beginning of an operation to put pressure on Merah.
"They [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."They [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.
Didier Martinez of the SGP police union told Associated Press the siege could go on for hours as police were counting on Merah weakening with fatigue.Didier Martinez of the SGP police union told Associated Press the siege could go on for hours as police were counting on Merah weakening with fatigue.
Anti-terror chief Francois Molins 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." Merah has given conflicting messages about surrendering.
The BBC's Richard Galpin, at the scene, says the delay may be because the authorities feel there is still a chance of a peaceful resolution or it may be because they are wary of the large amount of weapons Merah has. 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 say he armed with a Kalashnikov high-velocity rifle, a mini-Uzi 9mm machine pistol, several handguns and possibly grenades. Officials say Merah is 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.
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 flat after two officers were shot at when they tried to get into his flat early on Wednesday morning.Police had surrounded Merah's flat after two officers were shot at when they tried to get into his flat early on Wednesday morning.
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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.
His mother was taken to the scene on Wednesday in the hope that she could persuade him to surrender, but she told police that she had no influence over her son.His mother was taken to the scene on Wednesday in the hope that she could persuade him to surrender, but she told police that she had no influence over her son.
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" and said he would give himself up.Merah has said he acted to "avenge Palestinian children" and said he would give himself up.
Merah claimed to have received al-Qaeda training in Pakistan's Waziristan area, and also said he had been to Afghanistan.Merah claimed to have received al-Qaeda training in Pakistan's Waziristan area, and also said he had been to Afghanistan.
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 funeralEmotional 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.
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