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Charlie Hebdo attack: Hunt continues for three gunmen who massacred 12 journalists and police Charlie Hebdo attack: Three suspects named as French brothers and 18-year-old accomplice
(about 2 hours later)
The gunmen who massacred 12 journalists and police officers at the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo are still on the run tonight as thousands of people join vigils around the world. French police have identified three suspects for the massacre of 12 journalists and police at the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo as the manhunt to track then down continues.
According to Metro News, police have the suspects' names and dates of birth. The youngest man is a homeless 18-year-old of unknown nationality, the newspaper reported. Brothers Said Kouachi and Cherif Kouachi are believed to be French nationals of Algerian descent aged in their early 30s. Their accomplice was named as 18-year-old Hamyd Mourad, whose nationality was unclear.
The suspected gunmen were reported to be French-Algerian brothers aged 32 and 34 from the 10th arrondissement of Paris with alleged links to extremists in Iraq and Syria, according to Le Point. The men are linked to a Yemeni terrorist network, officials said, but would not confirm whether that group was al-Qaeda.
Security forces are searching for the attackers, who fled in a Citroen hatchback that is being examined by forensics teams after being dumped. A special police assault team surrounded a building in a council estate in Reims in northern France tonight, where at least two of the suspects were believed to be hiding.
“We are going in soon. Either there is going to be a shoot out or they have got away, tipped off by social media,” an officer told the French news agency AFP.
Scores of  officers from the Raid assault squad had surrounded the building in Reims – the home town of the youngest of the three suspects Police were ordering journalists and members of the public to clear the area.
Security forces had been searching for the attackers, who fled in a Citroen hatchback that is being examined by forensics teams after being dumped.
Armed gunmen face police officers near the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris The interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, said three men were being hunted and said “all the means” had been mobilised to “neutralise the three criminals who have committed this barbaric act”.Armed gunmen face police officers near the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris The interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, said three men were being hunted and said “all the means” had been mobilised to “neutralise the three criminals who have committed this barbaric act”.
He added that the operation will take place as quickly as possible in order to “identify the aggressors and arrest them in a way that they will be punished with the severity that corresponds to the barbaric act they have committed”.He added that the operation will take place as quickly as possible in order to “identify the aggressors and arrest them in a way that they will be punished with the severity that corresponds to the barbaric act they have committed”.
The masked attackers, armed with automatic rifles, were heard shouting “Allahu Akbar” - God is great - as they stormed the office before opening fire in an editorial meeting.The masked attackers, armed with automatic rifles, were heard shouting “Allahu Akbar” - God is great - as they stormed the office before opening fire in an editorial meeting.
A lorry tows the car used by armed gunmen who stormed the Paris offices of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo Footage showed them shouting in French “we have killed Charlie Hebdo -we have avenged the Prophet Mohamed,” in an apparent reference to the magazine’s publication of controversial cartoons depicting the Muslim prophet.A lorry tows the car used by armed gunmen who stormed the Paris offices of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo Footage showed them shouting in French “we have killed Charlie Hebdo -we have avenged the Prophet Mohamed,” in an apparent reference to the magazine’s publication of controversial cartoons depicting the Muslim prophet.
Witnesses said the gunmen claimed to be part of terrorist group al-Qaeda in Yemen and asked for cartoonists by name before murdering them.Witnesses said the gunmen claimed to be part of terrorist group al-Qaeda in Yemen and asked for cartoonists by name before murdering them.
The gunmen fled eastwards towards the Paris suburbs, dumping their car in a residential area, police said. They then hijacked another car before running over a pedestrian and disappearing.The gunmen fled eastwards towards the Paris suburbs, dumping their car in a residential area, police said. They then hijacked another car before running over a pedestrian and disappearing.
“There is a possibility of other attacks and other sites are being secured,” police union official Rocco Contento said.“There is a possibility of other attacks and other sites are being secured,” police union official Rocco Contento said.
Eight journalists, a guest and two police officers were killed, said Paris prosecutor Francois Molin. Eleven more were injured, including four who are in a critical condition.Eight journalists, a guest and two police officers were killed, said Paris prosecutor Francois Molin. Eleven more were injured, including four who are in a critical condition.
Charb, the editor of Charlie Hebdo (Reuters)Charb, the editor of Charlie Hebdo (Reuters)
Footage taken by terrified witnesses from windows and on rooftops overlooking the scene showed the terrorists shooting one of their victims, a police uniform at point-blank range as he lay injured on the pavement.Footage taken by terrified witnesses from windows and on rooftops overlooking the scene showed the terrorists shooting one of their victims, a police uniform at point-blank range as he lay injured on the pavement.
Corinne “Coco” Rey, a Charlie Hebdo cartoonist, told French newspaper L'Humanite: “I had gone to collect my daughter from day care and as I arrived in front of the door of the paper's building two hooded and armed men threatened us. They wanted to go inside, to go upstairs. I entered the code.Corinne “Coco” Rey, a Charlie Hebdo cartoonist, told French newspaper L'Humanite: “I had gone to collect my daughter from day care and as I arrived in front of the door of the paper's building two hooded and armed men threatened us. They wanted to go inside, to go upstairs. I entered the code.
"They fired on Wolinski, Cabu...it lasted five minutes...  sheltered under a desk...They spoke perfect French...claimed to be from al-Qaeda.""They fired on Wolinski, Cabu...it lasted five minutes...  sheltered under a desk...They spoke perfect French...claimed to be from al-Qaeda."
Prominent cartoonists Jean Cabut, the magazine’s artistic director, Stephane Charbonnier, its editor, and Bernard "Tignous" Verlhac were among the dead.Prominent cartoonists Jean Cabut, the magazine’s artistic director, Stephane Charbonnier, its editor, and Bernard "Tignous" Verlhac were among the dead.
The massacre was France's deadliest terror attack in at least two decades and prompted condemnation from world leaders including David Cameron and Barack Obama, alongside journalists and free speech campaigners.The massacre was France's deadliest terror attack in at least two decades and prompted condemnation from world leaders including David Cameron and Barack Obama, alongside journalists and free speech campaigners.
Journalists raise their press cards as others hold up pens during a vigil at the Place de la Republique French president Francois Hollande, who rushed to the scene of the attack, said it had left France in a state of shock. He added: “We need to show that we are a united country. We have to be firm, we have to be strong.”Journalists raise their press cards as others hold up pens during a vigil at the Place de la Republique French president Francois Hollande, who rushed to the scene of the attack, said it had left France in a state of shock. He added: “We need to show that we are a united country. We have to be firm, we have to be strong.”
The Prime Minister, who described the killings as "sickening", met Angela Merkel over the tragedy and said the leaders had contacted President Hollande to offer their support.The Prime Minister, who described the killings as "sickening", met Angela Merkel over the tragedy and said the leaders had contacted President Hollande to offer their support.
Ms Merkel, who is in London on an official visit, condemned the shooting as "barbarous", while President Obama condemned the "horrific" attack.Ms Merkel, who is in London on an official visit, condemned the shooting as "barbarous", while President Obama condemned the "horrific" attack.
It has prompted a wave of global solidarity with Charlie Hebdo over what is being seen as a direct attack on freedom of expression.It has prompted a wave of global solidarity with Charlie Hebdo over what is being seen as a direct attack on freedom of expression.
The hashtag #jesuisCharlie is trending on Twitter and people are wearing stickers bearing the slogan at vigils in Paris and around the world.The hashtag #jesuisCharlie is trending on Twitter and people are wearing stickers bearing the slogan at vigils in Paris and around the world.
Additional reporting by agenciesAdditional reporting by agencies