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France bank incident: Hostages held in Toulouse | France bank incident: Hostages held in Toulouse |
(40 minutes later) | |
A man who seized four people in a bank in the southern French city of Toulouse has released one of his hostages, police say. | |
Officials say the gunman first demanded money. When he was refused, a shot was fired and hostages taken. | Officials say the gunman first demanded money. When he was refused, a shot was fired and hostages taken. |
The man demanded to speak to the elite Raid police unit that shot Islamist gunman Mohamed Merah. | The man demanded to speak to the elite Raid police unit that shot Islamist gunman Mohamed Merah. |
Merah, who claimed al-Qaeda training, killed seven people in Toulouse before he was shot dead by police in March. | Merah, who claimed al-Qaeda training, killed seven people in Toulouse before he was shot dead by police in March. |
There are no reports of injuries in the incident so far. | There are no reports of injuries in the incident so far. |
The man went into the branch of the CIC bank at 10:10 local time (08:10 GMT), taking the manager and three other people hostage, French media say. | |
The area around the bank has been cordoned off and two nearby schools have been closed. | The area around the bank has been cordoned off and two nearby schools have been closed. |
"We're taking measures so we can start a dialogue," said public prosecutor Michel Valet, at the scene. | "We're taking measures so we can start a dialogue," said public prosecutor Michel Valet, at the scene. |
Special police units from the GIPN (Groupe d'intervention de la police nationale) have arrived from Marseille and Bordeaux. | Special police units from the GIPN (Groupe d'intervention de la police nationale) have arrived from Marseille and Bordeaux. |
A police union source told the regional newspaper Ouest-France it was not clear whether the man's claim about al-Qaeda was "serious or a fantasy". | A police union source told the regional newspaper Ouest-France it was not clear whether the man's claim about al-Qaeda was "serious or a fantasy". |
The hostage-taker was believed to around 30 years old and known to the authorities, Toulouse newspaper La Depeche reported. | |
The bank is a few hundred metres from Merah's flat, in an area adjacent to the barracks where Raid police were based during the March siege. | |
No officers from Raid - which has its headquarters north of Paris, about 600km (400 miles) from Toulouse - have been deployed to the scene. | No officers from Raid - which has its headquarters north of Paris, about 600km (400 miles) from Toulouse - have been deployed to the scene. |
Merah, a 23-year-old Frenchman of Algerian descent, killed seven people in three separate attacks. His victims included three children and a teacher at a Jewish school, and three soldiers. | Merah, a 23-year-old Frenchman of Algerian descent, killed seven people in three separate attacks. His victims included three children and a teacher at a Jewish school, and three soldiers. |
Merah filmed his attacks and sent the footage to police. | Merah filmed his attacks and sent the footage to police. |
He was shot dead by a police sniper on 22 March after commandos stormed his flat. | He was shot dead by a police sniper on 22 March after commandos stormed his flat. |
Merah was suspected to have had an accomplice within the Muslim community, our correspondent says. | Merah was suspected to have had an accomplice within the Muslim community, our correspondent says. |
In the wake of the shootings, the French authorities set up an investigation into whether Merah had accomplices and into possible Islamist indoctrination practices in prisons. | In the wake of the shootings, the French authorities set up an investigation into whether Merah had accomplices and into possible Islamist indoctrination practices in prisons. |
They have shown zero tolerance to anyone known to have used Islamist internet sites or to have had links to a fringe al-Qaeda group to which Merah is said to have belonged, our correspondent says. | They have shown zero tolerance to anyone known to have used Islamist internet sites or to have had links to a fringe al-Qaeda group to which Merah is said to have belonged, our correspondent says. |
On 7 June, a man armed with a shotgun took hostage a security guard at the French weather service, Meteo France. The hostage-taker fired several shots and was seriously injured when police returned fire. | On 7 June, a man armed with a shotgun took hostage a security guard at the French weather service, Meteo France. The hostage-taker fired several shots and was seriously injured when police returned fire. |
His hostage was uninjured. | His hostage was uninjured. |
Are you in the area? You can send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you in the area? You can send us your experiences using the form below. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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