Toulouse Serial Killer Mohammad Mera Dead

This article is confusing on the cause of death: it suggests he died due to jumping out of his apartment window and falling to his death, and also that he was shot in the head.

Perhaps both? Well, he's dead. That the article agrees on.

The Al Qaeda fanatic who murdered seven people in south west France died after being shot in the head in a vicious gunfire battle after police stormed his apartment following a 32-hour siege.

The Toulouse terrorist burst out of his flat's bathroom 'shooting insanely' at officers, before leaping to his death from a window.

In scenes reminiscent of a Hollywood film, Mohammad Merah, 23, unleashed round after round from automatic weapons after gas cannisters were thrown into his apartment and police stormed in.

Two officers were injured, including one who is still in a serious condition.

Did he have accomplices? Police are interested in a woman he was overheard speaking to.

The mystery woman is said to have been spotted talking to Merah from a train at the Gare de l’Est on Monday – just before he carried out an attack on a Jewish school.

Intrigued by the conversation – which was about the killing of three soldiers - another passenger is said to have asked the mystery woman ‘Were you talking to the Toulouse killer?’

Investigators are taking the lead ‘very seriously’, according to police sources, because it fits in Merah’s telephone records, which have since been compiled by the police.

I like the Daily Mail's choice to call him a "serial killer." It's good to stress that these are not "revolutionaries" or Holy Warriors or whatever delusional gay-panic romantic claptrap they've convinced themselves of, but simply murderers.

Oh, and Drudge: I didn't notice this. It went right over my head.

Drudge's headline, in all caps, is:

MOHAMMAD IS DEAD

Tami points out that's a baiting double-meaning. Pretty ballsy.

Sarkozy: Islam Had Nothing To Do With This. Are you sure of that, buddy? I think it has something to do with it.

France has shown its indignation and grit but has not allowed anger to take over.

The Muslim faith has nothing to do with the insane acts of this man. Before targeting Jewish children, he targeted other Muslims.

On the other hand, he's talking tough about cracking down on Jihadist websites and recruitment:

We must be implacable in defending our values. We will not allow this ideology to affect us.

From now on, any person who habitually consults websites that advocate terrorism or that call for hatred and violence will be punished by the law.

France will not tolerate forced recruitment or ideological indoctrination on its soil.

posted by Ace at 12:47 PM

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