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The Alps shooting which has shocked the British nation and the people of an Alpine region of France continues to confound the authorities. What now appears to be a husband and wife, plus an elderly woman were all found dead in their BMW car. They had each died from a gunshot wound to the front of the head. The couple's seven-year-old daughter, Zehab was shooting and beaten in the attack and remains in hospital. Their four-year-old daughter, Zaina, was found hidden under the two dead women in the back of the car. She is said to be traumatised.

Although a little more information is now known of what happened the police investigation still has a long way to go.

The dead couple have been named as Mr al Hilli and his dentist wife Iqbal. Mr as Hilli was originally from Iraq. Police have been told that there was a family feud over money.

The emergency services were called after a passing cyclist raised the alarm. He is a former RAF officer who was on vacation in the area. Another cyclist reached the area a little before  though, and he was killed by the murderer. Sylvain Mollier, 45, was found dead at the scene.

15 spent cartrdiges were found at the scene of the shootings but no weapons. The latest police statement has said that they want to locate a man who was seen speeding away from the area. He is said to be "a man who was wearing a black shirt and driving a white Peugeot 4x4."

Other than that currently the police have little to go on. They believe that during the run up to the holiday Mr an Hilli had something playing on his mind.

Zehan had been put into an induced coma by the hospital initially. She has now undergone surgery and is said to be out of danger. The police are hoping that the two little girls will offer vital information leading to an arrest. It will be a case of treading carefully though in light of what they have experienced and seen.

Zaina who remained cureld up under the legs of the two dead women, for more than eight hours, was only discovered by police once campers at the same site told them the couple had two girls with them.

Updates will follow
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The shooter of one adult and three children outside a French school, and three soldiers in previous drive by shootings is this morning under siege. The man has been identified as  Mohammed Merah, 24, a Frenchman of Algerian origin. He has reportedly admitted the killings claiming that they were carried out as revenge attacks to "avenge Palestinian children". He has also claimed that he belongs to  al-Qaeda a.

At time of writing there are reports of injuries sustained by two police officers during the siege. A fresh blast has also been heard. His siblings have also been questioned and one brother has been arrested. Interior Minister Claude Gueant said "Our main concern is to catch him and to catch him under such conditions that he can be brought to justice." He went on to say that,  "The suspect claims to be a mujahideen and to belong to al-Qaeda," having visited Pakistan and Afghanistan on numerous occasions. " He wanted revenge for the Palestinian children and he also wanted to take revenge on the French army because of its foreign interventions."

Early reports indicate that this man was already on the radar of police investigation the earlier deaths of soldiers. People will now be wondering why the investigation team did not act more quickly.

Full story here updates to follow.

 
 
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The Ozar Hatorah school in Jolimont, Toulouse.was the scene of a dreadful attack today, March 19, 2012. An attack by a gunman riding a motorbike has left two children and one adult dead. At least two other children were injured and taken to hospital.

The drive by attack took place in the South of France, the same region where a manhunt has been underway for the murder of three soldiers. According to Sky News "Around two weeks ago, a parachutist instructor in uniform was shot dead by an assailant riding a scooter using a 9mm gun. And on March 15, two paratroopers were killed and a third wounded when a gunman riding a scooter drove up and shot them as they stood at a cashpoint."  Following these military attacks military personnel were warned not to wear their uniforms when out and about.

An extensive manhunt following the military attacks failed to apprehend the perpetrator or perpetrators. Whilst as yet there is no hard evidence that today's attack is linked to the military ones it does seem highly likely. French authorities have said the attacks all follow a pattern.

This is a breaking news story with updates to follow.

Latest news March 19, 2012: The dead were a 30-year-old father and his three- and six-year-old sons as well as another child. A 17-year-old was seriously injured. Five others suffered injuries.French President Sarkozy has declared it a national tragedy vowing that the culprit will be caught. A manhunt is underway. Links to the previous shooting of soldiers have been found. Today's shootings have been called acts of terrorism. A statement said an investigation had begun, “for acts of murder and attempted murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise.”

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