Investigators in Canada and abroad are looking into unconfirmed reports that the suspect wanted in the brutal slaying of a Chinese university student has been spotted in France.

The reported sighting of Luka Rocco Magnotta, 29, took place last Friday in that country, according to Montreal police Cmdr. Ian Lafreniere.

"I can confirm this morning, that yes, he was seen in France in the past days," he told CTV's Question Period in a telephone interview on Sunday.

Unfortunately we missed him, but we got a good feeling we're getting close now," Lafreniere later told CTV Montreal, stressing that they are in close contact with French police, as well as Interpol, RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police and various police stations worldwide. "This is one of the biggest manhunts we've ever had in Montreal."

 

French officials say they're following up on claims made by two people who believe they saw the suspect in the northwest part of Paris, but no other details were available.

Montreal police have confirmed only that Magnotta left Canada on a flight bound for Europe May 26.

"We're working closely with Interpol and with different agencies, more than 100 different agencies across the world," he said, adding that many tips have been pouring in.

"We've had 360 tips so far. This is extremely demanding, but it's extremely helpful. A lot of people have been touched by this story and they're trying to help us," he said. "We're never further than one tip from the suspect."

Montreal police have issued a Canada-wide arrest warrant for Magnotta, who is a suspect in the murder of Concordia University student Jun Lin. Interpol has also added him to its wanted list, and posted security photos that are believed to be at an undisclosed airport.

Lafreniere said he was not aware if it was Montreal's Trudeau Airport, adding, "It’s not official pictures from our side."

Lin's torso was found in the garbage Tuesday behind an apartment building linked to Magnotta after the 33-year-old student was reported missing by a friend.

Police also believe it was Lin's hand and foot that were mailed to federal political party offices, with one package containing a human foot reaching the Conservative Party's headquarters.

Several of the victims body parts have not yet been recovered.

"That might look very weird, but there are still body parts that we're missing," said Lafreniere.

Police also identified Lin as the likely victim killed in a gruesome film that began circulating the Internet several days ago.

Lafreniere said it's possible Magnotta is on the move and police don't want to stick to one location.

"He could be everywhere, anywhere, so that's why we're working with Interpol and we need help from different countries now," he said.

With little information to rely on in terms of criminal background, police are sorting through a considerable amount of online material it's believed the suspect posted.

Lafreniere said that information is helpful because Magnotta has boasted in the past that he's adept at disguise.

The fact his different appearances are posted in online photo galleries should make it easier to find him, he said.

Lafreniere described Magnotta as someone he believes needs to seek out attention, "so that's why there are so many pictures, so many videos."

"He's been using the Web to glorify himself, but I think it's the Web that's going to take him down," he said.

Police are also following up on links between the suspect and other people in Canada.

"We've been very close to catching him. I feel very comfortable, very hopeful that very soon we're going to catch him," Lafreniere said.

Magnotta is sought on charges of murder as well as the following other crimes: offering an indignity to a dead human body or human remains (182 of the criminal code); publishing materials of an obscene matter (163), using the postal system to transmit obscene, indecent, immoral or scurrilous material (168) and stalking-related offences (264).

With a report from CTV Montreal