French release couple suspected of assisting Merah

No charges have been filed against alleged accomplices of radical Muslim terrorist

JTA — French police released a man and woman arrested on suspicion that they helped Mohammed Merah “commit crimes” that may have included the murder of four Jews in Toulouse.

The couple were not charged with any crimes. Police had detained them in southern France early last week.

The French news service AFP named one of the suspects as Charles Mencarelli and reported that he was arrested in Albi, about 45 miles northeast of Toulouse. AFP described Mencarelli as not having a permanent address. His life partner was arrested at her home in Toulouse, according to the report.

Merah, a 23-year-old radical Muslim, killed a rabbi and three children in a planned attack on the Otzar Hatorah Jewish school in Toulouse on March 19. The slayings came a few days after Merah gunned down three French soldiers in two drive-by shootings from a scooter near Toulouse. He was shot dead on March 22 by police as they stormed his home.

It is believed that Merah did not plan the slayings alone.

Most Popular
read more: