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Subscribe to RSSFrench police are demanding the surrender of Mohamed Merah, the suspect who allegedly shot seven people and then bragged of bringing France to its knees. NBC's Jim Maceda reports.
Updated at 11:01 p.m. ET: TOULOUSE, France – Three large explosions were heard late Wednesday at the siege of a suspect wanted in the killings of three Jewish children, a rabbi and three soldiers, but there were reports that the blasts were an attempt to pressure the man to surrender and did not signal the start of an assault.
Toulouse Deputy Mayor Jean-Pierre Havrin had said that negotiations with the suspect, identified as 24-year-old Mohammed Merah, had ended and an assault had begun.
But there were conflicting reports that authorities had blown open the apartment doors and windows in an attempt to pressure Merah to give up.
"They 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. "There is no assault.''
Orange flashes lit up the night sky near the suspect's building as the first explosions were heard.
More than an hour later, several loud bangs were heard at the site.
Police reinforcements had arrived at the scene at around 10 p.m. and authorities switched off street lights in the street, signaling that action would begin soon.
The suspect wounded three police officers when the standoff began at 3 a.m. Wednesday.
Interior Minister Claude Gueant said earlier that Merah had told police that he would surrender after dark. Gueant said Merah appeared to have acted alone in the killings -- but also claimed to authorities that he met al-Qaida "chiefs" while traveling in Pakistan last year.
Merah, under siege by hundreds of police officers, claimed to be a member of al-Qaida and that he had shot dead the four out of "revenge for Palestinian children." He is also suspected by authorities of having killed three French soldiers of North African origin last week.
French prosecutor Francois Molins said Merah, a Frenchman of Algerian descent, told police he had been to Afghanistan twice and had trained in the militant stronghold of Waziristan.
Molins also said Merah had planned to kill another soldier and two police officials imminently, and that his brother had been implicated in a network sending fighters to Iraq.
Police sources earlier told Reuters that another man had been arrested earlier Wednesday at a separate location in connection with the case.
Several hours after the initial raid, which took at about 3 a.m. local time Wednesday (10 p.m. ET Tuesday), the alleged gunman threw a pistol out the window in exchange for a "communication device." However, he was believed to have other weapons including an AK-47 assault rifle.
The suspect said he would surrender in the late evening "to be more discreet," although he had earlier promised to give himself up during the afternoon.
"He claims to be a mujahedeen and to belong to al-Qaida," Gueant told journalists in Toulouse. "He wanted revenge for the Palestinian children and he also wanted to attack the French army because of its foreign intervention."
Remy De La Mauvinere / AP
Police and firefighters stand near the building where a suspect in the shootings at a Jewish school in Toulouse, France, was believed to be holed-up.
France 24 reported that Merah had been tracked by French intelligence services for several years.
An earlier Reuters report that Merah escaped in 2008 from Kandahar prison, where he had been serving a three-year sentence, was retracted by the news agency. Kandahar governor's office said that account was "baseless", citing judicial records. "Security forces in Kandahar have never detained a French citizen named Mohammad Merah," the governor's spokesman, Ahmad Jawed Faisal, said.
Citing prison documents, Kandahar prison chief Ghulam Faruq had told Reuters that Afghan security forces detained Merah on December 19, 2007, and that he was sentenced to three years in jail for planting bombs in the southern province of Kandahar, the Taliban's birthplace.
'God is testing us'
As the siege continued, the Haaretz newspaper reported that thousands of people had gathered at the Har HaMenuchotcemetery in Jerusalem Wednesday for a joint funeral service for the victims, Rabbi Jonathan Sandler and his two sons, Gabriel, aged six, and Arieh, three, and Miriam Monsonego, aged eight.
"Our hearts are with the Jews of France and with the Ozar Hatorah institutions that took such a hard and painful blow. The pain is unimaginable, God is testing us," Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai said in his eulogy, according to the paper.
PhotoBlog: Funeral for school shooting victims held in Israel
President Nicolas Sarkozy, campaigning for re-election in a presidential poll in five weeks time, has blamed racism for Monday's school attack. His handling of the crisis could be a decisive factor in determining how the French people vote. France has troops in Afghanistan as part of NATO forces.
"Terrorism will not divide France," Sarkozy said. "We should not give way to discrimination or vengeance after shootings."
Gueant did not say how authorities had tracked Merah down.
However, a Le Figaro correspondent at the site of raid reported that police received key tip from a local motorcycle shop in Toulouse a few days ago, according to NBC News. A salesperson said a man came into the shop to ask how to neutralize the GPS system on his TMX scooter. The salesperson thought this was suspicious and reported incident to police, giving a description of the suspect.
Gueant said that when police arrived to raid the house "the wanted individual shot at the door." NBC News reported the officers were members of an elite team known as RAID.
All French shooting victims shot in the head at close range, prosecutor says
One officer was injured in the knee and another officer lightly injured in ensuing exchanges of gunfire, Gueant said. A third officer was later reported to have been hurt.
Heavily armed police in bullet-proof vests and helmets cordoned off the area where the raid was taking place, in a suburb only about 2 miles from the Ozar Hatorah Jewish school where Monday's shootings took place. NBC News reported that 300 officers were participating in the operation.
Suspect's mother called in
Merah's mother, elder brother and two sisters were detained by police on Tuesday and negotiators sought their help in trying to persuade him to turn himself in to the authorities.
"His mother said she did not wish to speak to him because she did not believe she could convince him and he would be deaf to her appeals," Gueant said.
The suspect inside the house said that he trained in the Pakistan and Afghanistan and is affiliated with Forca lesa, an Islamic group dismantled by the French government. The group, which recruits young French to join the jihad, is considered to be dangerous.
On Tuesday, hundreds of police officers had spread out across southern France in the hunt for the gunman suspected in three deadly attacks.
Authorities suspect the school killer was also behind two recent attacks in the same area on French paratroopers that left three soldiers dead and one seriously wounded. The victims were of North African and French Caribbean backgrounds.
A tense standoff unfolds in Toulouse, France, between police and the man suspected in a string of deadly shootings, including one at a Jewish school that killed three children and a rabbi.
Sarkozy described the killer as a "monster."
"There are beings who have no respect for life. When you grab a little girl to put a bullet in her head, without leaving her any chance, you are a monster. An anti-Semitic monster, but first of all a monster," he said.
Monday's incident was the deadliest school shooting in the country and the bloodiest attack on Jewish targets in decades. Schools across the country held a moment of silence Tuesday to honor the victims, who were heading to Israel for burial.
Gueant described the suspect as "someone very cold, very determined, very much a master of his movements, and by consequence, very cruel."
NBC News, Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Regarding Obamas deportation count being up- it is true. This results from how the numbers are now tabulated. The Administration gave an unprecedented directive to border agents to count those turned back at a border crossings as ''deportations''. Real deportations are way down. No surprise from the masters of deceit.
My friend, (who works for the border patrol), says they are catching more SOUTH bound illegals, than north bound.
Also the drug mules are turning themselves in, (after delivery), to get a free ride home.
Those that believe obama's BS are idiots.
I agree Obama is an Idiot
It seems the conversation has gone way off track, but I would like to actually talk about the written article, and not peoples personal religious beliefs for a second.
It seems to me, that just reading these two sentences should be more important to the conversation than the old Religion BAD arguments. Not only did this man escape from a prison, but some how, he managed international travel into France, aquired weapons and planed deadly attacks. All while French intelegence agencies knew about him? I am not, in any way advocating the extreme security mesures the United States have taken uppon themselves since 9/11, but it seems that France does need to re-evaluate its imigration controls, as well as how it handles checks on suspected terrorists. I would argue, that the moment any French agency became aware of this person, and that he was escaped from an Afghan prison, he should have been taking into custody. That measure alone could have saved lives. Sadly hind sight is 20/20, but perhaps the tragedy will bring about some positive changes in French security.
Religion and race wars will kill us all!
I think that sometimes security personnel become so used to the "routine" that they become careless. Terrorists know this and exploit that vulnerability. There is a lot of truth to the concept of "hidden in plain sight."
I very much doubt this person is part of any organized terror group. If he was, there would be no shoot-out going on - he would have committed suicide (martyrdom.) This is the response of someone who is criminal period.
you dont know what you are talking about. muslims only comitt suicide while in the act of killing their enemies. since he already killed them he wont kill himself now while alone
I think France needs more Mexicans. We have about 30 million we can send
what are you talking about dude - rules of war? rules of WAR? one minute he's a terrorist - now he's suddenly a 'soldier' of some invisible arming fighting a war? against who? - talking about killing innocent people, I do recall ONE man (as this one mad man is) going around like a loony and killing innocent Afghani's.. including children.. isn't he part of the American Army rules of war, you joke - choose your enemy, terrorist or army that that Amerian soldier killing innocent Afghani's.. including children is Jews to so we should go the streets of the united states we also born and group American why they killed are children's and the Jews was start killing Muslims from the gorbachu and before when the plistin give them free land to live a peace but stay to thanks to them start become a enemy with out any reason that all peoples in the israil they all not from there but tajik ousbak all from russian now live there in isreil and killing muslims we should week the @!$%# up all are Muslims
terrorists ARE AN invissible army fighting a war. are trying to ridicule something that is obvious; the only thing you succeeded in doing was making yourself look like a fool
terrorists basically by definition are fighters of an invisible army. it's co knowledge Muslims hide behind their own women and children while plotting to butcher the other side's women and children. an Army guy snaps and kills civilians; Muslims PLAN to slaughter civilians by the thousands; as in 9-11 or the thousands of car bombs you soldiers of Allah use to slaughter thousands
seriously dude try adult education classes ok?
All this hatred! People everywhere shooting and killing innocent people and even children as payback for war! What a society we are living in.
I think since "extremist belief" people everywhere cannot accept anyone who is different from them that we should go back to separate countries for each race and even each religious belief. There could be an extremist Chistian country, an extremist Islamist country, all blacks in one country, all European descent in one country, all hispanics in one country. Just like it used to be. Shut the doors to all countries - no one in or out.
The "melting pots" are not working. Human beings, if you can call them that, cannot reside together in peace.
These crazy extremists will just continue to make life a living hell for the rest of us. Extreme Christians and Islamists won't allow gays to live peacefully and have the same rights as the rest of us. Extreme Islamists won't allow women and children rights. All who won't accept others just kill in the name of God. How crazy is that? Use their "God's" name to justify killing others! Using their "God's" name to justify denying rights to others.
Mental illness run rampant!
Great...great....only one thing left to do....take his body to the farm...have a horse, donkey, pigs, cows take a crap on it then grind it in a meat grinder for fertilizer....OH...personally take a dump on it.
The blame for the massacre should be put squarely on Israel. Until Israel stops treating the Palestinians unjustly this will continue to happen. Israel can threaten to go to war with Iran or any other middle eastern country. But these terrorists can strike at anytime and any place putting jews and others at danger. Until the west stop siding with Israel we are all in danger.
I'm utterly amazed at the ignorance of losers who can see no evil in anybody but Jews/Israelis. what kind of ignorance makes people say thee ind of stupidity pouted above by lisa hampton?
Stir up hatred and blame, Lisa, that will fix the problems!
there is no such thing as a Palestinian. it's a made up ethnic group with no real culture apart of that of typical arabs in the region. there never was a state or country of palestine that wasnt a part of someone else's empire. the whole region was Jewish 2 thousand years before Mohammad was even born
You could not have sounded less intelligent if you tried. But I am sure you will continue to do so. Congratulations on displaying for all to see your major cognitive impairment. Anything you say will always be viewed in that context.
Lisa...
Do you just hate Israel or all Jews in general?
Israel defends it's borders very well, and has every time they've been attacked by the neighboring Arab states. What do you see that's wrong with that?
This rag head is on his way to see Allah!
And 72 very ugly virgins!
Crash - How about just calling a criminal a criminal. Criminal minds kill. Why take terrorists, or individual terrorists/criminals and lump them in one group of people and call them "rag-heads"? Just a way for you to stir up more violence and hatred. Congratulations! I think everyone should keep stirring up more hatred - that will solve all the ills of the world - don't you think so?
God, I can just see it now!
As soon as this now worm feeding, piece of crap towel head gets a look at those virgins, he realizes just why they still are virgins!
No wonder they wore those burkhas!
Here is the breakdown. There is no suspect, there is a dead person indie that house. The shooter is a CIA agent. The police will come in later and he will dress with a mask and leave with them. And the more appropriate "terrorist" will be assigned the blame. That's how it works. Of course you will not find a John Smith when you can blame Mohamad Ali. Care to know what date when Palestine was sold to the zionist?
another laughable Muslim loser making a fool of himself with paranoid delusions? of course there cant be a Muslim murderer in that house; Muslims dont murder innocent people right genius?
It is quite obvious that the muslims have so very little capacity to forgive. It simply is not part of their religion as it is in Christianity. They (the muslims) say God is merciful, which he is, but they have so very little of it themselves. They hold grudges for thousands of years over an offence that none was alive to give. So much burning hate! Two wrongs never make a right, and those fanatics, muslim, jewish and christian, do not appear to understand this, as they are so blinded by their hate. They will be the ruin of all!
Christians aren't helping Evenstar! Extremists in all religions are only forcing hatred on others. Forgiveness? Please! It isn't about forgiveness -it is about all forcing your religious beliefs on others and ostracizing and killing all who do not agree with your "belief system." Sick!
Fanatics of all religions are the problem. I am not a fanatic, but I am a christian, and I can plainly see how people corrupt the religion they hold most dear. Too many people who claim to be good, what ever donomination they may be, are so quick to condemn others for their inequities, but a true christian condemns the inequity, not the person. Two wrongs do not make a right....ever.
That's swell, Evenstar - so glad you, as a Christian, don't condemn others for their "inequities". See, I forgive you for your "inequities". That of thinking that others have "inequities" that you don't have. Christianity has become arrogant BS. I was raised in the Christian religion. All I hear now from Christians is "better than", arrogant BS.
Did anyone really believe after Israel has assassinated so many Iranians and killed so many innocent people in gaza that there wouldn't be a response? Interesting they adopted Israeli assassination tactics for their revenge. Israel is the only country in the world to practice international assassinations as a matter of policy. They have reaped what they have sowed.
Gaza should be destroyed entirely; it is a separate "nation' and they lob rockets at Israel daily. Israel has shown great patience with these ACTS OF WAR. so take your idiotic excuses for Islamic savagery and stuff them ok?
A quran thumper. Gee, Who would have thought. OK now lets send him off to the virgins waiting for his sorry a**.
Americans need to stop lying to themselves. Netenyahu is the worst thing that could have happened to Israel. The Jews need to stop acting like they are the innocent ones. But what they have done is cause nothing but turmoil and anguish for the Palestinians. Israel is the cause for most of the turmoil in the middle east. Assassinating Iran scientists among other things while denying freedom to the palestinians. Israel will never live in peace until they change their ways. That goes for anybody who is causing havoc in the world. The jewish people are bringing this on themselves. Americans need to wake up and let Israel handle it's own problems.
what kind of mindless ignorance does it take to ignore muslim savagery in the name of allah and focus only on Israel?
Lisa - you are part of the problem. Pick a side and spew hatred! Thanks for the post!
Allpeoplerights@ I pick America fool. It is not in the interest of our country to continually be siding with Israel. Let the Jewish people take care of themselves. 9/11 happened because of Israel.
That's funny! Someone named "Lisa" working for Iranian Intelligence. I bet your real name is "Achmed".
Do they pay you in goats?
Yeah, makes you wonder how they came up with Lisa Hampton. Probably some coed one of them wanted to shtoop while they were in college in the US since in their country they only teach goat herding and IED construction.
Lisa - Please don't "pick" America. Americans do not want your hatred, bias, and bigotry.
The U.S. needs to take a lesson from the experience of the UK and France with Muslims, and stop permitting Muslims to come to the U.S. They refuse to assimilate, and want to create their own society controlling their adopted country. When they disagree with the policies of their adopted country, they use violence.
One person - one criminal - now becomes "they". So, keep spewing all your biased rantings. Why not try to be part of the answer rather than add to the hatred and the problem? Gee, what a concept, eh?
The examples are practically endless. You need to see them on your doorstep in a suicide vest?
the first so-called palestinians were jewish; then they were christians; then they were converted to islam at the tip of the sword
Reason is not what these people want bhofailed. Good luck finding an understanding point. This is about "pick a side" and hate and blame. Mental midgets must blame and hate - that's how it works. That is why there is war. It will never make sense. One thing I have learned over time is never try to make sense with non-sensical people. But good luck trying.
This is all right wing propaganda.
Islam should not be judged by the terror attacks carried out by muslims.
Baloney! Right wing - left wing has nothing to do with it. Just gotta find "something" or "someone" to blame and hate. Don't you see how stupid that is?
Where did I hate??
I am encouraging people not to hate, not to judge unfairly.
Right wing propoganda? That's hatred and this has nothing to do with right wing or left wing. Give the hatred a rest!
It's hard to understand the mindset of someone who would kill an innocent child. I can only imagine that someone who has been through some kind of trauma and has no regard for life anymore would do this, but I really don't know. One thing is for certain, this kind of incident will probably be repeated by other murderers. Hopefully the French police will be better equipped and more vigilant to catch this kind of thing in the future.
understand Islam and you'll have your answer.
Why did the headline not say who or should I say say what Group attacked the Jews - When is MSNBC going to report the Truth about anyyhing ??
Because it is ONE criminal! Perhaps it isn't about giving you a "group" to blame. He did say he was with al-Qaida, but that's probably not correct either. Let's just give the groups who kill one name - Mentally ill criminals! It is as simple as that. A bunch of criminals who make themselves a group. That can be gangs, it can be al-Qaida, it can be religious fanatics, etc. So, why need a "group" to blame or hate? How much hatred do you all want?
Totally believable how someone could attribute another muslim slaughter to Israel. The question is what did those three African soldiers have to do with the allah praisers of palistine? Come on think hard Im sure you can come up with some lame excuse. Its well past time to call a spade a spade an declare Islam a terrorist organization.
Sick al qaeda @!$%#,, They should just bomb the WHOLE of the Middle east and all be done with. @!$%# all them scumbags, what use are they in our world, all they do is bleed our money dry and kill our troops
Revenge is a never ending cycle...should have learned that in grade school but the world just keeps on seeking revenge like it will settle the score but it never does. It's just dumb..emotional but still dumb...like justifiable anger is still anger and anger rarely makes anything better.
guys islam is the religon of muslim and muslim are peaceful full of love and honesty but some black sheeps in there which we called radical they are not radical actully they have no religion no religion give permission to kill another human being if they do kill they are worst then animals my heart goes to rabbi his kids and another kid and there family god bless all
March 21, 2012
Last Friday evening, President Obama signed an Executive Order giving him the power to implement martial law in the US. The National Defense Resources Preparedness Executive Order will give Obama the power to seize the countries resources in a time of crisis or peace. This includes resources ranging from livestock to sources of energy and water. Many critics of the Obama Administration believe this is another effort at power grab,
Wow, really? A power grab by a president? How can that be?
Sorry left, yesterday they stated the far right might be responsible. I know this disappoints you.