French Jewish school gunman arrestedMarch 21, 2012 - 17:42 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The 23-year-old French national suspected of killing three children and a rabbi at a Jewish school this week was arrested today following a standoff with police at a house in Toulouse, BFM-TV reported. Elite French police were locked in a dramatic standoff in Toulouse earlier today with the suspected al-Qaeda-linked gunman believed to be behind the massacre, as well as the earlier killings of three off-duty soldiers. Two officers were wounded as the police special weapons squad cornered the 23-year-old French national, named as Mohammed Merah, in a house in the southern French city in the early hours. The initial raid failed to secure Merah's arrest. Negotiations were ongoing in the early afternoon. An explosion was heard at the scene soon after 9am local time. According to Le Figaro, police detonated a car belonging to the suspect after weapons were found inside. Merah, who is of Algerian descent, previously was arrested in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and was known to France's DCRI domestic intelligence agency, AFP reported. Merah was jailed for three years in Afghanistan after his arrest in December 2007 for planting explosives but escaped six months later during a Taliban jailbreak, Reuters reported, citing Kandahar's prison governor. French interior minister Claude Gueant - who was ordered by President Nicolas Sarkozy to stay in Toulouse until the gunman was caught - said Merah told police he would surrender in the afternoon. Gueant said police wanted to take him alive. The gunman threw a handgun out of the window, but police believe he has other weapons including an Uzi sub-machine gun, Le Figaro quoted Gueant as saying. Merah was identified in the afternoon after Monday's shooting at a Jewish school. Police launched the raid at 3.10am local time, according to News.com.au. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Ameriabank's Trade Finance portfolio enriched with four prestigious awards from EBRD and IFC Ameriabank received the awards from international financial institutions in recognition of its trade finance operations. Armenian Economy Minister to make trip to UAE May 20-22 A delegation led by Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan will travel to the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi on May 20-22 Armenia Security Council chief traveling to Qatar Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan will travel on a working visit to Qatar. Pillars installed in Armenian border village of Kirants In the Armenian village of Kirants, three border markers have been installed, and border guards stand next to them. |