Following the racist murder by a scooter riding gunman outside a Jewish school in Toulouse of religious teacher Jonathan Sandler, his two sons Gabriel 3, and Arieh 6, as well as 8 year old Miriam Mononego. President Nicolas Sarkozy has put the region on its highest terrorism alert.

More than 100 police officers have been dispatched to the area to hunt for the gunman. Security was tightened in Toulouse, and guards were posted at religious sites.

This attack follows strong similarities to two shootings in the same region earlier this month. Where three soldiers were shot by a gunman on a scooter at a cash-point outside their Barracks north of Toulouse. The same handgun has been confirmed as being used in both attacks.