France hostage situation ends: Three dead in terror attack in Trebes; police kill Islamic State militant

At least three people were killed on Friday in a shooting spree and hostage siege in southwest France by a man claiming allegiance to the Islamic State group. Reuters

The gunman — a 26-year-old drug dealer monitored as a possible Islamic extremist — carried out three separate shootings in the medieval town of Carcassonne and nearby Trebes where he ended his rampage by taking hostages at a supermarket. Gendarmes of the French special unit GIGN are seen next to a supermarket after a hostage situation in Trebes. Reuters

Named as Redouane Lakdim and said by security sources to have Moroccan nationality, the gunman first hijacked a car in Carcassonne, killing a passenger and injuring the driver, before shooting and injuring a policeman who was out jogging. French Police officers cordon off the area during an incident in Trebes. AP

After driving around 15 minutes to a Super U supermarket in the sleepy town of Trebes, shouting "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest), a witness reported. He killed another two people and took hostages for more than three hours, armed with a knife and a gun, according to survivors. Another witness said he had grenades. French police and firefighters secure the entrance of Trebes, southern France. AP

The Islamic State group claimed the attack was in response to its call to target its Western enemies — as is customary when the assailant has pledged allegiance to the jihadists. A total of three people were killed and three people were injured by the gunman. An anti-terror policeman was also injured during the raid to end the siege. Police officers and investigators are seen in front of a supermarket after a hostage situation in Trebes. Reuters