France hostage crisis updates: Trèbes gunman killed by police; 3 dead, 2 injured in terror attack

Islamic State claims responsibility for France terror attack  

The Islamic State jihadist group claimed responsibility for a shooting spree and hostage siege on Friday in southern France, its propaganda agency said. 

“The person who carried out the attack in Trebes in southern France is a soldier of the Islamic State and he carried out the operation in response to a call to target states” of the anti-IS international coalition, the Amaq agency said in a statement on social messaging app Telegram. —AFP

Islamic State claims responsibility for France terror attack  

The Islamic State jihadist group claimed responsibility for a shooting spree and hostage siege on Friday in southern France, its propaganda agency said. 

“The person who carried out the attack in Trebes in southern France is a soldier of the Islamic State and he carried out the operation in response to a call to target states” of the anti-IS international coalition, the Amaq agency said in a statement on social messaging app Telegram. —AFP

French Interior Minister praises heroism of French cop who offered himself up as hostage swap 

French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb has praised the “heroism” of a French police officer who offered himself up as a hostage swap during an attack in southern France and was seriously injured.

Collomb said the policeman “volunteered to swap his place with a hostage” at a supermarket in the town of Trebes and stayed with the armed suspect. He managed to leave his cell phone switched on after the swap, establishing a contact with officers outside the supermarket in the hours-long standoff Friday.

Collomb said elite French forces stormed the market and killed the gunman after hearing gunshots inside. He did not say how or when the police officer was injured. — AP

French Interior Minister praises heroism of French cop who offered himself up as hostage swap 

French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb has praised the “heroism” of a French police officer who offered himself up as a hostage swap during an attack in southern France and was seriously injured.

Collomb said the policeman “volunteered to swap his place with a hostage” at a supermarket in the town of Trebes and stayed with the armed suspect. He managed to leave his cell phone switched on after the swap, establishing a contact with officers outside the supermarket in the hours-long standoff Friday.

Collomb said elite French forces stormed the market and killed the gunman after hearing gunshots inside. He did not say how or when the police officer was injured. — AP

French Interior Minister praises heroism of French cop who offered himself up as hostage swap 

French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb has praised the “heroism” of a French police officer who offered himself up as a hostage swap during an attack in southern France and was seriously injured.

Collomb said the policeman “volunteered to swap his place with a hostage” at a supermarket in the town of Trebes and stayed with the armed suspect. He managed to leave his cell phone switched on after the swap, establishing a contact with officers outside the supermarket in the hours-long standoff Friday.

Collomb said elite French forces stormed the market and killed the gunman after hearing gunshots inside. He did not say how or when the police officer was injured. — AP

Trèbes terror attack suspect, Redouane Lakdim, was known to the police but not deemed extremist threat: interior minister

The man who killed three people in a shooting spree and hostage siege in southern France on Friday was known to police but was not considered a terror threat, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said.

Collomb named the gunman, who was killed by police, as 26-year-old Redouane Lakdim and described him as a small-time drug dealer. “He was known by the police for petty crimes, we had monitored him and did not think he had been radicalised,” Collomb said after arriving at the scene of the hostage-taking in the town of Trebes, near Carcassonne.

“He was already under surveillance when he suddenly decided to act,” he said. Security sources had said the gunman was believed to be a Moroccan who was on a watch list of suspected Islamic extremists, but Collomb did not confirm his nationality. — AFP

Trèbes terror attack suspect, Redouane Lakdim, was known to the police but not deemed extremist threat: interior minister

The man who killed three people in a shooting spree and hostage siege in southern France on Friday was known to police but was not considered a terror threat, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said.

Collomb named the gunman, who was killed by police, as 26-year-old Redouane Lakdim and described him as a small-time drug dealer. “He was known by the police for petty crimes, we had monitored him and did not think he had been radicalised,” Collomb said after arriving at the scene of the hostage-taking in the town of Trebes, near Carcassonne.

“He was already under surveillance when he suddenly decided to act,” he said. Security sources had said the gunman was believed to be a Moroccan who was on a watch list of suspected Islamic extremists, but Collomb did not confirm his nationality. — AFP

Trèbes terror attack suspect, Redouane Lakdim, was known to the police but not deemed extremist threat: interior minister

The man who killed three people in a shooting spree and hostage siege in southern France on Friday was known to police but was not considered a terror threat, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said.

Collomb named the gunman, who was killed by police, as 26-year-old Redouane Lakdim and described him as a small-time drug dealer. “He was known by the police for petty crimes, we had monitored him and did not think he had been radicalised,” Collomb said after arriving at the scene of the hostage-taking in the town of Trebes, near Carcassonne.

“He was already under surveillance when he suddenly decided to act,” he said. Security sources had said the gunman was believed to be a Moroccan who was on a watch list of suspected Islamic extremists, but Collomb did not confirm his nationality. — AFP

EU gives ‘full support’ to French people over attacks

The EU offers its full support to the French people amid a new set of attacks carried out Friday in France, European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said.

“France has again been hit by a cowardly and bloody act,” Juncker told an EU summit press conference, offering “all our feelings and our full support to the French authorities and the French people”. —AFP

EU gives ‘full support’ to French people over attacks

The EU offers its full support to the French people amid a new set of attacks carried out Friday in France, European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said.

“France has again been hit by a cowardly and bloody act,” Juncker told an EU summit press conference, offering “all our feelings and our full support to the French authorities and the French people”. —AFP

EU gives ‘full support’ to French people over attacks

The EU offers its full support to the French people amid a new set of attacks carried out Friday in France, European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said.

“France has again been hit by a cowardly and bloody act,” Juncker told an EU summit press conference, offering “all our feelings and our full support to the French authorities and the French people”. —AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron tweets about Trèbes terror attack 

J'assure les habitants de Trèbes de l'entière solidarité et mobilisation des services de l'État et de ses forces de l'ordre.

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 23, 2018

French President Emmanuel Macron tweets about Trèbes terror attack 

J'assure les habitants de Trèbes de l'entière solidarité et mobilisation des services de l'État et de ses forces de l'ordre.

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 23, 2018

French President Emmanuel Macron tweets about Trèbes terror attack 

J'assure les habitants de Trèbes de l'entière solidarité et mobilisation des services de l'État et de ses forces de l'ordre.

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 23, 2018

Emmanuel Macron says all evidence suggests hostage-taking, shootings were a terrorist attack

French President Emmanuel Macron said all evidence suggested the hostage-taking and shootings were a terrorist attack. Speaking in Brussels, where he is attending an EU summit, Macron offered his “full support” to everyone involved in the situation.

The president said he won’t give details on the number of victims “at this stage.” Macron said he would return to Paris in the coming hours and will follow closely the situation. —AP

Emmanuel Macron says all evidence suggests hostage-taking, shootings were a terrorist attack

French President Emmanuel Macron said all evidence suggested the hostage-taking and shootings were a terrorist attack. Speaking in Brussels, where he is attending an EU summit, Macron offered his “full support” to everyone involved in the situation.

The president said he won’t give details on the number of victims “at this stage.” Macron said he would return to Paris in the coming hours and will follow closely the situation. —AP

Emmanuel Macron says all evidence suggests hostage-taking, shootings were a terrorist attack

French President Emmanuel Macron said all evidence suggested the hostage-taking and shootings were a terrorist attack. Speaking in Brussels, where he is attending an EU summit, Macron offered his “full support” to everyone involved in the situation.

The president said he won’t give details on the number of victims “at this stage.” Macron said he would return to Paris in the coming hours and will follow closely the situation. —AP

3 dead, 2 injured in three separate attacks in France

A gunman in southwest France has killed at least three people and injured two others in three separate incidents around the city of Carcassonne, security sources told AFP.

The man first hijacked a car in Carcassonne on Friday morning, killing a passenger and injuring the driver, the sources told AFP on condition of anonymity.

He then shot at a group of policemen nearby, leaving one of the officers injured, before driving to the nearby town of Trebes where he killed two people and injured another at a Super U supermarket, the sources said. —AFP

3 dead, 2 injured in three separate attacks in France

A gunman in southwest France has killed at least three people and injured two others in three separate incidents around the city of Carcassonne, security sources told AFP.

The man first hijacked a car in Carcassonne on Friday morning, killing a passenger and injuring the driver, the sources told AFP on condition of anonymity.

He then shot at a group of policemen nearby, leaving one of the officers injured, before driving to the nearby town of Trebes where he killed two people and injured another at a Super U supermarket, the sources said. —AFP

3 dead, 2 injured in three separate attacks in France

A gunman in southwest France has killed at least three people and injured two others in three separate incidents around the city of Carcassonne, security sources told AFP.

The man first hijacked a car in Carcassonne on Friday morning, killing a passenger and injuring the driver, the sources told AFP on condition of anonymity.

He then shot at a group of policemen nearby, leaving one of the officers injured, before driving to the nearby town of Trebes where he killed two people and injured another at a Super U supermarket, the sources said. —AFP

Students in Trèbes made to stay inside schools, officials report all students are safe

The Paris prosecutor’s office says the prosecutor who leads the country’s counterterrorism office is heading to southern France to oversee the unfolding investigation of a hostage situation at a supermarket.

The school system in the Trèbes region says all students are safe and will remain inside schools until further notice. Parents and relatives have been told not to come to pick them up. —AP

Students in Trèbes made to stay inside schools, officials report all students are safe

The Paris prosecutor’s office says the prosecutor who leads the country’s counterterrorism office is heading to southern France to oversee the unfolding investigation of a hostage situation at a supermarket.

The school system in the Trèbes region says all students are safe and will remain inside schools until further notice. Parents and relatives have been told not to come to pick them up. —AP

Students in Trèbes made to stay inside schools, officials report all students are safe

The Paris prosecutor’s office says the prosecutor who leads the country’s counterterrorism office is heading to southern France to oversee the unfolding investigation of a hostage situation at a supermarket.

The school system in the Trèbes region says all students are safe and will remain inside schools until further notice. Parents and relatives have been told not to come to pick them up. —AP

Gunman in Trèbes ​hostage-taking killed by the police

French police have killed a gunman who shot dead at least three people and injured two others in a hostage-taking and shooting spree in southwest France, security sources said.

A policeman involved in the freeing of all of the hostages at the Super U supermarket in the town of Trèbes was injured during the operation to kill the gunman, the source added, asking not to be named. — AFP

Gunman in Trèbes ​hostage-taking killed by the police

French police have killed a gunman who shot dead at least three people and injured two others in a hostage-taking and shooting spree in southwest France, security sources said.

A policeman involved in the freeing of all of the hostages at the Super U supermarket in the town of Trèbes was injured during the operation to kill the gunman, the source added, asking not to be named. — AFP

Gunman in Trèbes ​hostage-taking killed by the police

French police have killed a gunman who shot dead at least three people and injured two others in a hostage-taking and shooting spree in southwest France, security sources said.

A policeman involved in the freeing of all of the hostages at the Super U supermarket in the town of Trèbes was injured during the operation to kill the gunman, the source added, asking not to be named. — AFP

French interior minister urges people to stop spreading ‘fake news’

French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb reaches Trèbes, the site of a shooting and hostage-taking in southern France. He interacted with the security and rescue force in the area. He also urged people to stop spreading ‘fake news’ and follow the interior ministry Twitter handle @Place_Beauvau for official information. 

#Trèbes : j’arrive sur place où je rejoins nos forces de sécurité et secours.
Leur mobilisation est totale.
Ne propagez pas de #FakeNews et suivez @Place_Beauvau. pic.twitter.com/JgpyUHaUKj

— Gérard Collomb (@gerardcollomb) March 23, 2018

French interior minister urges people to stop spreading ‘fake news’

French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb reaches Trèbes, the site of a shooting and hostage-taking in southern France. He interacted with the security and rescue force in the area. He also urged people to stop spreading ‘fake news’ and follow the interior ministry Twitter handle @Place_Beauvau for official information. 

#Trèbes : j’arrive sur place où je rejoins nos forces de sécurité et secours.
Leur mobilisation est totale.
Ne propagez pas de #FakeNews et suivez @Place_Beauvau. pic.twitter.com/JgpyUHaUKj

— Gérard Collomb (@gerardcollomb) March 23, 2018

French interior minister urges people to stop spreading ‘fake news’

French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb reaches Trèbes, the site of a shooting and hostage-taking in southern France. He interacted with the security and rescue force in the area. He also urged people to stop spreading ‘fake news’ and follow the interior ministry Twitter handle @Place_Beauvau for official information. 

#Trèbes : j’arrive sur place où je rejoins nos forces de sécurité et secours.
Leur mobilisation est totale.
Ne propagez pas de #FakeNews et suivez @Place_Beauvau. pic.twitter.com/JgpyUHaUKj

— Gérard Collomb (@gerardcollomb) March 23, 2018

French interior ministry urges people not to share sensational news in relation to the Trèbes hostage situation 

French interior ministry warns citizens to avoid relaying sensational and shocking statements related to the terror incidents in France, they have also provided a link where people can report sources with such dubious content.

🔴 #Trèbes #Carcassonne Ne relayez pas les propos choquants ou illicites que vous voyez sur les réseaux sociaux. Un réflexe : signaler sur la plateforme #PHAROS ➡️ https://t.co/FiQFJsMxut pic.twitter.com/ksA4BpqVJn

— Ministère de l'Intérieur (@Interieur_Gouv) March 23, 2018

French interior ministry urges people not to share sensational news in relation to the Trèbes hostage situation 

French interior ministry warns citizens to avoid relaying sensational and shocking statements related to the terror incidents in France, they have also provided a link where people can report sources with such dubious content.

🔴 #Trèbes #Carcassonne Ne relayez pas les propos choquants ou illicites que vous voyez sur les réseaux sociaux. Un réflexe : signaler sur la plateforme #PHAROS ➡️ https://t.co/FiQFJsMxut pic.twitter.com/ksA4BpqVJn

— Ministère de l'Intérieur (@Interieur_Gouv) March 23, 2018

French interior ministry urges people not to share sensational news in relation to the Trèbes hostage situation 

French interior ministry warns citizens to avoid relaying sensational and shocking statements related to the terror incidents in France, they have also provided a link where people can report sources with such dubious content.

🔴 #Trèbes #Carcassonne Ne relayez pas les propos choquants ou illicites que vous voyez sur les réseaux sociaux. Un réflexe : signaler sur la plateforme #PHAROS ➡️ https://t.co/FiQFJsMxut pic.twitter.com/ksA4BpqVJn

— Ministère de l'Intérieur (@Interieur_Gouv) March 23, 2018

Moroccan man identified as France hostage-taking suspect

French investigators suspect the gunman who took people hostage at a supermarket on Friday is a Moroccan man who had been flagged as a potential extremist, a security source said to AFP.

Moroccan man identified as France hostage-taking suspect

French investigators suspect the gunman who took people hostage at a supermarket on Friday is a Moroccan man who had been flagged as a potential extremist, a security source said to AFP.

Moroccan man identified as France hostage-taking suspect

French investigators suspect the gunman who took people hostage at a supermarket on Friday is a Moroccan man who had been flagged as a potential extremist, a security source said to AFP.

Trèbes hostage-takers reportedly asks for release of Paris attack suspect Salah Abdeslam

France24 reports that the suspect in the Trèbes hostage-taking has reportedly asked for the release of the 2015 Paris attacker Salah Abdeslam . French private channel BFM TV has also reported the news, citing an anonymous source.