French gunman was to attack Canada, recordings say

Leaked conversations between French terrorism suspect and authorities show that the suspect claimed he was encouraged to attack Canada.

Mohamed Merah, 23 years old, went on a shooting spree in Toulouse last March, killing three Jewish schoolchildren, three paratroopers and a rabbi.

Speaking in French in the recordings, Merah said that the operatives from al-Qaida offered to let him carry out attacks in Canada and the United States.

But Merah said that as he was a French citizen, it would be easier for him to attack France.

Merah would not surrender to the police, and was killed in a shootout after being holed up in his apartment for thirty-two hours.

Police say Merah was a radical Islamist and claimed allegiance to al-Qaida.

Victim’s families were outraged at the airing of the recordings.  

An investigation is taking place to verify if the airing violates any French law on the privacy of investigations.