The French Interior Minister Claude Gueant reported on Wednesday that the 24-year-old suspect, who is surrounded by French police in a building located in southwestern France, and claims to have links to al-Qaida, is talking to a police negotiator and says he’ll surrender in the afternoon. About 300 French policemen swept into a residential neighborhood in northern Toulouse early on Wednesday and exchanged fire with the suspect. Three officers were injured in the operation, which remains ongoing. The suspect reportedly has an AK47 machine gun and other weapons. The suspect’s brother was arrested. Minister Gueant reported that police want to take the suspect alive.
The suspect, responsible for three deadly attacks in France, including the death of three children and four others, is known to authorities for having spent time in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The minister said, “He said he wants to avenge the deaths of Palestinians.” The minister reportedly does not know how the communication is taking place. Due to the deadly attacks, France’s terror alert level has risen to its highest level ever in the region.
