The French interior minister says the suspect in a three-attack killing spree has died after jumping from his apartment window, arm in hand.
Claude Gueant says the suspect, who claims links to al-Qaida, jumped after police entered the apartment and found him holed up in the bathroom. Police and the suspect exchanged fire before Mohamed Merah died.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
TOULOUSE, France (AP) _ A police official says that the suspect in a three-attack killing spree who claims links to al-Qaida is dead.
The official, Didier Martinez of the Unite SGP police union, says the news was announced Thursday on the police radio shortly after a 5-minute volley of gunfire. It was not immediately known exactly how Mohamed Merah, 24, died.