Explosions at siege of Jewish school gunman’s home

Three explosions were heard last night outside the home of the gunman wanted for shooting seven people dead.

Mohammed Merah, who killed three Jewish schoolchildren, a rabbi and three paratroopers, had said he would turn himself in at night “to be more discreet”.

However, after authorities turned off street lights surrounding his Toulouse apartment, three loud explosions were heard outside Merah’s flat. It was suggested the raid on the ground-floor dwelling had begun. Toulouse’s deputy mayor confirmed that the assault on the flat had begun. However, this was later disputed.