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Toulouse hostages held in French bank siege Toulouse hostages held in French bank siege
(40 minutes later)
A man who seized four people in a bank in the southern French city of Toulouse has freed two hostages, reports say. A man who seized four people in a bank in the southern French city of Toulouse has freed two 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, saying he was linked to al-Qaeda, demanded to speak to the elite Raid police unit that shot Islamist gunman Mohamed Merah.The man, saying he was linked to al-Qaeda, 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 but witnesses at the scene said they heard a second shot being fired some time after the hostage was released. There are no reports of injuries in the incident so far. Witnesses at the scene said they heard a second shot being fired during the afternoon, a claim denied by the interior ministry.
'Religious reasons''Religious reasons'
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 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".
More than four hours into the siege, police said a woman hostage had been freed in exchange for food and water. A second woman was released some time afterwards.More than four hours into the siege, police said a woman hostage had been freed in exchange for food and water. A second woman was released some time afterwards.
Negotiations were understood to be continuing towards the release of the remaining two.Negotiations were understood to be continuing towards the release of the remaining two.
Mr Valet told reporters that "the man has made clear that he is not acting for money, but for religious reasons". Mr Valet told reporters that the man "wishes to let it be known that he is not acting for money, but for religious reasons".
The hostage-taker was believed to be around 30 years old and known to the authorities, Toulouse newspaper La Depeche reported. He was from Castres, to the east of Toulouse, and one source told the paper he was a schizophrenic who had broken off his treatment.The hostage-taker was believed to be around 30 years old and known to the authorities, Toulouse newspaper La Depeche reported. He was from Castres, to the east of Toulouse, and one source told the paper he was a schizophrenic who had broken off his treatment.
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.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.
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