French Soldier Stabbed In Paris. Is This A Copycat Attack?

French Police Hunt Man Who Stabbed Soldier In Paris -- The Guardian

Anti-terrorist police seek man who stabbed 25-year-old Private Cedric Cordierin the neck before fleeing the scene.

French anti-terrorist police are searching for a man who stabbed a soldier in the neck in a business neighbourhood west of Paris before fleeing the scene on Saturday night.

The 25-year-old soldier, Private First Class Cedric Cordier, was patrolling in uniform with two other troops in a shopping area adjoining the station at La Défense as part of France's Vigipirate anti-terror surveillance plan.

He was approached from behind at around 6pm and attacked with a knife or box-cutter. Cordier was wounded in the neck and is being treated in hospital, but his injuries are not life-threatening. He lost a large amount of blood but his condition was said to be "satisfactory" on Sunday afternoon.

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Update: French soldier stabbed while on patrol near Paris -- Reuters

My Comment: A copycat attack? I am sure that thought is on many people's minds (including mine).

France Is 'Enemy Number 1' For Jihadists

France stepped up internal security measures following its action in Mali

France Is 'Enemy Number 1' for Jihadists After Mali: Judge -- New York Times/Reuters

PARIS (Reuters) - The rise of Islamist militants in Mali has been "a rallying cry" for potential jihadists in France, but an attack on French soil is unlikely in the short term, France's top anti-terrorism judge said on Friday.

France launched air strikes and deployed thousands of ground troops in Mali this month to drive back al Qaeda-linked rebels it fears will turn its former colony into a launch pad to attack French political and economic interests.

"Now they (Islamists) consider us public enemy number one," said Marc Trevidic, France's most senior examining judge in charge of investigating terrorism.

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Update: France in the firing line of 'new jihad' -- BBC

My Comment: We are all 'Enemy Number 1' for Jihadists

Al Jazeera Will Not Air French Killings Video

Toulouse Shootings: al-Jazeera Decides Against Airing Video -- The Guardian

TV channel says it will not screen footage that appears to show Mohamed Merah's deadly attacks at a school and a barracks

Al-Jazeera has decided against airing a video that purports to show the attacks on soldiers and a Jewish school in south-western France, which was apparently filmed by the killer, and includes the cries of his victims.

The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, other French officials and family members of the victims had asked for it not to be broadcast.

The station later posted a brief statement on its website, saying: "al-Jazeera will not air video of French shootings.

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More News On Al Jazeera Decising To Not Air The Toulouse Shooting Video

Source: Killer didn't send French attacks video -- AP
Al Jazeera not to air French killings video -- Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera says won't air French gunman film -- Reuters
Al-Jazeera not to air France shootings video -- AFP
Network won't show France killings video, it says -- CNN
Al Jazeera Will Not Air Toulouse Massacre Video -- RIA Novosti
Al-Jazeera opts not to air Merah shootings video -- BBC
France shootings: What the 'Merah video' contains -- BBC

Toulouse Gunman's Brother 'Proud' Of His Killings. Explosives Were Also Found In His Car

Toulouse Gunman's Brother 'Proud' Of Killings, Say Police -- The Guardian

Mohamed Merah's brother Abdelkader transferred to Paris for questioning after explosives found in his car.

The brother of a French gunmen who killed seven people before being shot dead has said he is proud of what his brother did, according to a police source.

Mohamed Merah, 23, was shot dead on Thursday after a 30-hour siege of his apartment in Toulouse, south-west France. New video has emerged of the apartment where he was besieged before he opened fire on police as they searched for him. The gunman then jumped out of a window and was shot by a marksman.

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Update #1: French gunman’s ‘proud’ brother questioned -- Washington Post/Reuters
Update #2: Toulouse gunman Mohammed Merah had links to Islamic extremists in Britain -- Daily Mail

My Comment: They found explosives in the older brother's car. Here is an easy prediction .... the Toulouse gunman's brother is going to be charged for acting as an accessory to murder, and he will go to jail for a very long time.

Toulouse Siege Ends With Death Of Terror Suspect

Toulouse Siege: Live -- The Telegraph

Live coverage of the siege at the home of Mohamed Merah, the suspected Toulouse serial killer responsible for the murders of four people outside a Jewish school and three paratroopers in south west France.

• Mohamed Merah killed in firefight with police
• Gunman leapt from window still firing
• 'Al-Qaeda' gunman began 'shooting madly'
• Merah found dead on ground outside flat
• Two police injured, one with foot wound
• 32-hour siege ends in five-minute gun battle
• More than 300 rounds fired in fierce exchange
• Officers storm building after series of explosions

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More News On The Toulouse Siege

France shootings siege: Live Report -- AFP
Police: Islamic gunman dead after French standoff -- Yahoo News/AP
Gunman dies in hail of bullets as French siege ends -- Yahoo News/Reuters
French terror suspect shot in head by police -- Boston.com/AP
French killings suspect dies shooting at police, authorities say -- CNN
Suspect in French shooting attacks dead after raid, shootout -- L.A. Times
Gunman dies in hail of bullets as French siege ends -- Reuters
Toulouse siege: Mohammed Merah is dead, French Interior Minister says -- The Telegraph
France Says Inquest Will Determine Possible Terror Accomplices -- Bloomberg
French siege: France must stand united, says Sarkozy -- BBC
Sarkozy praises security forces, calls for national unity -- Jerusalem Post
Extremist suspect upends French presidential race -- AP
Sarkozy Pledges Tougher Stance On Terror After Toulouse Shootings -- Wall Street Journal

Reports Are Coming In That The Toulouse Terror Suspect Has Been Arrested

Toulouse Shootings: Police Arrest Man And Corner Suspect In Early Swoop - Live Updates -- The Guardian

Three police officers wounded in shoot-out during pre-dawn swoop in Toulouse to arrest suspects in Jewish school shooting

1.41pm: Police are now saying that explosives were found in Merah's brother's car.

1.40pm: Guéant, however, is apparently denying any arrest ...

1.38pm: There's some speculation that Sarkozy himself will announce Merah's arrest as he's getting very near the scene. The election is just weeks away.

1.36pm: Reuters notes both BFMTV and i-Tele are reporting that Merah has been arrested after a standoff lasting nearly 12 hours.

One police source who is not directly linked to the investigation confirmed the arrest to Reuters, but several other sources said they were not aware of it.

The TV channels cited police sources for the information, without providing further details. It was not immediately possible to confirm this.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to speak to the nation this afternoon.

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More News On The Toulouse Stand-Off

Toulouse shootings: police arrest man and corner suspect in early swoop - live updates -- The Guardian
France shootings siege: Live Report -- AFP
Toulouse siege: live -- The Telegraph
Live Coverage: Suspect in French Jewish school shooting renews contact with police -- Haaretz
Gunfight as French suspect cornered -- Sydney Morning Herald
French police surround suspect in Toulouse shootings -- CNN
French police in standoff with possibly Al Qaeda-linked suspect in school shootings -- FOX News/AP
French police in standoff with suspect in Jewish school slayings -- L.A. Times

Update: The Guardian is reporting that the suspect has been arrested.