French police arrest 20 suspected Islamists in raids

Around 20 suspected Islamists were arrested by police in France during dawn raids according to French media.

A number of the raids took place in, among other cities, Toulouse which was where gunman Mohamed Merah operated.

The domestic intelligence agency (DCRI) and the elite Raid police commando group carried out the raids which were focused particularly in the Mirail quarter.

Raids also took place in Nantes, believed to be a base for the group Forsane Alizza (Knights of Pride) which had been linked to Merah.

The group had previously been dissolved in a previous investigation by the interior ministry.

Further arrests were also made in Lyon, Marseille, Paris, Nice and Le Mans while weapons have also been seized including at least one Kalashnikov rifle.

Merah was buried in Toulouse yesterday after being shot down by police on 22 March after having killed seven people in three individual attacks.

Sources said there were no direct links with the raids in the police-hunt for possible accomplices.

Abdelkader, Merah’s brother, has been charged with helping Merah while police search for another man who is thought to have been involved in the theft of a scooter used by Merah in all the killings.