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French police officers outside Mohamed Merah's apartment building in Toulouse on Friday AP Photo/Thibault Camus

Toulouse gunman’s 29-year-old brother charged with murder and terrorism

French authorities have said they believe Abdelkader Merah was involved in his brother Mohamed’s shooting spree which left seven people dead.

FRENCH POLICE HAVE this evening  filed preliminary murder and terrorism charges against the brother of Toulouse gunman Mohamed Merah.

The Associated Press reports that 29-year-old Abdelkader Merah is suspected of complicity to murder and theft and involvement in a terrorist enterprise.

Preliminary charges under French law gives authorities more time to investigate while at the same time indicating there is strong reason to suspect a crime was committed.

Merah’s mother was also questioned but was released yesterday.

Abdelkader Merah was transferred to French police’s anti-terrorist headquarters in Paris yesterday as the investigation continued into the killings.

Mohamed Merah killed seven people, including a rabbi, three children at a Jewish school, and three French soldiers, before dying during a stand-off with police at his flat on Thursday.

Separately, a teacher in France who allegedly asked pupils to observe a one minute silence for the Toulouse gunman has been suspended.

Students at the school in Rouen in northern France walked out after the teacher called Mohamed Merah “a victim,” the BBC reports.

The teacher is also reported to have told students that Merah’s links to terror group al-Qaeda had been fabricated as part of a plot by the media and French president Nicolas Sarkozy.

- Additional reporting by The Associated Press

Girlfriend of murdered French soldier to wed posthumously >

Gunman in Toulouse standoff ‘filmed killings’ >

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    Mute Simon Cunnane
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    Aug 3rd 2011, 8:17 AM

    Excellent, very well written article from Corporal Rigney. Stay safe.

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    Mute Pen Name
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    Aug 3rd 2011, 10:58 AM

    That’s a good read. I’d like more articles like that on journal.ie.

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    Mute Johnny Wonga
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    Aug 4th 2011, 6:13 PM

    Yes definately, why not do a full series on “day in the life of…” across different workplaces/professions/trades/vocations etc.

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    Mute Dave O'Shea
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    Aug 3rd 2011, 9:15 AM

    Oh by the way … Nice tan

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    Mute Dave O'Shea
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    Aug 3rd 2011, 9:15 AM

    Nice one Alan , keep safe mate and look after the red arse’s ;-)

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    Mute Torpedo
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    Aug 3rd 2011, 9:11 AM

    This brings back some happy memories

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    Mute Joan Featherstone
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    Aug 6th 2011, 8:47 PM

    Hey yep Johnny, that’s a brilliant idea, would make excellent reading…. I’ll volunteer!!!

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    Mute JD Power
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    Aug 5th 2011, 2:33 AM

    How about, I really miss you ….but it’s time I cracked onto myself and stopped being a whiney bastard!

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