Toulouse shooter might have had accomplices in Kazakhstan

Mohammed Merah. ©REUTERS

Toulouse shooter Mohammed Merah who shot 7 people in March 2012 had broad connections in 20 countries, including Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia, BBC writes citing Le Monde. The magazine has received access to confidential documents of French Central Intelligence Agency. According to the materials, Merah was calling to Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Bhutan and Great Britain from September 2010 to February 2011. According to one of the officials, the shooter frequently changed SIM-cards registered to his mother. Supposedly, the family tried to cover up for the criminal. Le Monde writes that special forces took notice of Merah back in 2009. But a closer supervision of him started only after March 2011 when he came back from Afghanistan. It was reported earlier that Merah was part of the Soldiers of Khalifat that claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack in Atyrau and the shooting in Boraldai. However, later French authorities refuted the connection of Toulouse shooter with the Soldiers. This March 24-y.o. Mohammed Merah shot dead three children, a rabbi and three militarymen next to a Jewish school in Toulouse. The criminal was shot by the police during apprehension.

Toulouse shooter Mohammed Merah who shot 7 people in March 2012 had broad connections in 20 countries, including Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia, BBC writes citing Le Monde. The magazine has received access to confidential documents of French Central Intelligence Agency. According to the materials, Merah was calling to Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Bhutan and Great Britain from September 2010 to February 2011. According to one of the officials, the shooter frequently changed SIM-cards registered to his mother. Supposedly, the family tried to cover up for the criminal. Le Monde writes that special forces took notice of Merah back in 2009. But a closer supervision of him started only after March 2011 when he came back from Afghanistan. It was reported earlier that Merah was part of the Soldiers of Khalifat that claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack in Atyrau and the shooting in Boraldai. However, later French authorities refuted the connection of Toulouse shooter with the Soldiers. This March 24-y.o. Mohammed Merah shot dead three children, a rabbi and three militarymen next to a Jewish school in Toulouse. The criminal was shot by the police during apprehension.

terrorism Soldiers of Khalifat shooting news Kazakhstan Kazakh France Europe crime