The woman who lived with the gunman who killed three people and took hostages at a supermarket in southwest France on Friday has been detained for questioning, the country’s top anti-terror prosecutor said.
Speaking in Carcassonne, Francois Molins said the partner of Radouane Lakdim was suspected of “association with criminals with the aim of carrying out a terrorist act”.
He said Lakdim had claimed to be a “soldier” for the Islamic State jihadist group while storming the Super U market in nearby Trebes, before he was killed by police.
About 50 people were in the store at the time, and Lakdim quickly opened fire, killing a customer and an employee, Molins said.
A police officer then offered to take the place of the remaining hostages, Molins said.
Lakdim later came outside the store, using the officer as a shield, to demand ammunition before returning inside.
When the special forces officers heard shots they stormed the store, killing the gunman and recovering the officer who had been “seriously wounded”.
“Investigations are underway to find out where the gun came from, how he got hold of it, and to learn if he had any accomplices,” Molins said.
AFP
