Following the shocking racist killings outside a Jewish school in Toulouse France, French schools observed a minute's silence.

President Sarkozy stood in a school yard with children where he said how the incident affected the whole of France.

(SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT NICOLAS SARKOZY SAYING:

"These children were three, six and eight years old. The murderer hounded a little girl. It's a serious matter. So serious, that the whole republic is concerned. Your teachers, your families and you."

While crowds also gathered in public places to commemorate the dead and observe the minute's silence.

It is now established beyond doubt that the three incidents in Toulouse; these three murders and the death of two ex soldiers in Montauban were the work of the same man. He used the same gun, rode the same 500cc Yamaha scooter and acted with the same cold-blooded brutality.