Merah had been under surveillance by French intelligence for years, Interior Minister Claude Gueant said.

CNN: SHARE THIS

Interior Minister Claude Gueant told French radio station Europe 1 on Friday that he feared a serial killer could be responsible.

CNN: France serial killer fears grow after 4 shootings

But Interior Minister Claude Gueant, speaking to CNN affiliate BFM-TV on Wednesday, denied any suggestion that the raids were linked to politics.

CNN: France arrests 10 suspected Islamists in fresh raids