Siege gunman’s brother charged over murders

French prosecutors have filed preliminary murder and terrorism charges against the brother of a gunman who killed Jewish schoolchildren and paratroopers in attacks that stunned the country.

An official from the prosecutor’s office says the preliminary charges were handed to Abdelkader Merah yesterday.

He is suspected of complicity in murders and thefts and involvement in a terrorist enterprise.

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Preliminary charges under French law mean there is strong reason to suspect a crime was committed but allow magistrates more time to investigate.

Merah’s younger brother Mohamed was shot dead by police after a 32-hour siege at his apartment in Toulouse on Thursday after claiming responsibility for killing three Jewish schoolchildren, a rabbi and three paratroopers.

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