Man who beheaded French teacher 'offered students money' for information on his victim

Police say the attacker had several hundred euros on him when he went to the school

People gathered at the weekend to pay homage to Samuel Paty after he was beheaded outside his school (AFP via Getty Images)

The man behind the beheading of a French teacher reportedly offered students money for information in the lead-up to the attack.

An anti-terrorism prosecutor previously said the 18-year-old had asked pupils to point out Samuel Paty before killing the 47-year-old outside his school in a Paris suburb. 

The history and geography teacher  – who had shown pupils cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad earlier this month - was beheaded in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine on Friday. 

The attacker went to the school and offered to pay students money for information, according to French media. 

He had several hundreds of euros on him, newspaper Le Monde reported.

One 15-year-old pupil has reportedly admitted to taking money in exchange for help identifying Mr Paty.

Investigators said the teenager – who was taken into police custody - claimed he had no idea what the attacker had in mind, according to La Chaine Info.

Mr Paty was beheaded in broad daylight outside the school where he taught.

Earlier this month, he had shown his pupils cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad in a class on freedom of expression.

The 18-year-old attacker, who was born in Russia and was of Chechen origin, had been living in the town of Evreuxy, northwest of Paris, and was not previously known to the intelligence services.

People have taken to the street in France in a show of solidarity and defiance following the beheading of Samuel Paty (AFP via Getty Images)

He was shot dead shortly after killing Mr Paty. 

An investigation for murder with a suspected terrorist motive has been opened, according to French anti-terrorism proseuctor Jean-Francois Ricard. 

French authorities said on Sunday they had detained an eleventh person following the killing, while the French interior minister said on Monday more police operations are underway. 

Thousands of people attended rallies across France at the weekend in honour of Samuel Paty, including at the Place de la Republique in Paris, where some carried placards inscribed with “Je suis enseignant” - I am a teacher.

Meanwhile, France is reportedly looking at expelling around 200 foreigners on a watchlist for suspected extremist religious beliefs in light of Mr Paty’s beheading. 

Thousands took to the streets in France on Sunday to show support for freedom of speech and to commemorate the life of the 47-year-old teacher.