French police to investigate gunman's brother

The Paris prosecutor’s office has opened a judicial inquiry into whether the brother of a radical gunman who killed seven in southern France was complicit in preparing terrorist acts.

A special anti-terrorist judge was expected to file preliminary charges against Abdelkader Merah later today, the prosecutor’s office said.

The moves suggest investigators have strong reason to believe that 23-year-old gunman Mohamed Merah was not acting alone when he planned his attacks, which left three Jewish schoolchildren, a rabbi and three paratroopers dead.

Merah died in a gunfight with police on Thursday.

The brother’s girlfriend, Yamina Mesbah, was released early today without charge.