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Police search for two brothers in massive French manhunt amid fears of more attacks Police search for two brothers in massive French manhunt amid fears of more attacks
(about 1 hour later)
PARIS — The massive manhunt after France’s worst terrorist attack in generations shifted to the countryside north of Paris on Thursday as commandos and helicopter patrols poured into villages after reports the main suspects — both heavily armed — were spotted on the run. PARIS — A massive manhunt for the perpetrators of France’s worst terrorist attack in generations shifted to the countryside north of Paris on Thursday as commandos and helicopter patrols poured into villages following reports that the two main suspects — both heavily armed — were spotted on the run.
The investigation also broadened on another front with police conducting arrests amid fears that more attacks could be planned. The investigation also broadened on another front, with police conducting arrests amid fears that more attacks could be planned.
A day after the massacre of a dozen people at a satirical newspaper, France’s capital was a mix of mourning, anger and hair-trigger tensions — raised even further after the slaying of a policewoman in a Paris suburb. A day after the massacre of a dozen people at the offices of a satirical newspaper, France’s capital was a mix of mourning, anger and hair-trigger tensions — raised even further after the slaying of a policewoman in a Paris suburb Thursday morning.
Authorities said there was no immediate information to link the police shooting with Wednesday’s attack at the newspaper Charlie Hebdo, whose well-known editor was among those slain in apparent retribution for the weekly’s provocative cartoons and content on Islam. Authorities said there was no immediate information to link the shooting with Wednesday’s attack at the newspaper Charlie Hebdo, whose well-known editor was among those slain in apparent retribution for the weekly’s provocative cartoons and content on Islam.
But it put in sharp relief one of the main concerns among France’s shaken leaders: that the violence may not be over. But the latest killing underscored one of the main concerns among France’s shaken leaders: that the violence may not be over.
France’s interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, said at least seven people had been arrested as the manhunt fanned out across Paris and its suburbs. Cazeneuve gave no details on the detainees or any possible connection to the main suspects in Wednesday’s raid: the brothers Said and Chérif Kouachi, 34 and 32. France’s interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, said at least seven people have been arrested as the investigation expands. Cazeneuve gave no details on the detainees or any possible connection to the main suspects in Wednesday’s raid: the brothers Said and Chérif Kouachi, 34 and 32, the Paris-born sons of Algerian immigrants.
“We are confronting an exceptional risk that can lead at any moment to other instances of violence,” Cazeneuve said on Europe 1 radio.“We are confronting an exceptional risk that can lead at any moment to other instances of violence,” Cazeneuve said on Europe 1 radio.
Chérif Kouachi, a former pizza deliveryman, has a history of funneling jihadist fighters to Iraq and a terrorism conviction from 2008, police said.Chérif Kouachi, a former pizza deliveryman, has a history of funneling jihadist fighters to Iraq and a terrorism conviction from 2008, police said.
The arrests, however, came hours before French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said “a main concern” was whether the brothers — or possibly others — could carry out another attack.The arrests, however, came hours before French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said “a main concern” was whether the brothers — or possibly others — could carry out another attack.
“There is no such thing as zero risk,” Valls told RTL radio.“There is no such thing as zero risk,” Valls told RTL radio.
Police, meanwhile, followed a tip that the brothers had left Paris.Police, meanwhile, followed a tip that the brothers had left Paris.
French media reported that two men, believed by witnesses to be the suspects, were spotted at a gas station near Villers-Cotteret in the northern French Aisne region, about 45 miles northeast of Paris.French media reported that two men, believed by witnesses to be the suspects, were spotted at a gas station near Villers-Cotteret in the northern French Aisne region, about 45 miles northeast of Paris.
The manager of a gas station “recognized the two men suspected of having participated in the attack against Charlie Hebdo,” Agence France-Presse reported.The manager of a gas station “recognized the two men suspected of having participated in the attack against Charlie Hebdo,” Agence France-Presse reported.
Other reports said the men — apparently armed with Kalashnikov rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers — fired shots and robbed a service station of food and gas.Other reports said the men — apparently armed with Kalashnikov rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers — fired shots and robbed a service station of food and gas.
Counterterrorism squads, backed by helicopter patrols, fanned out around the area. Counterterrorism squads, backed by helicopter patrols, fanned out around the area. Surveillance teams monitoring main highways, including routes back to Paris.
A third suspect, Hamyd Mourad, 18, turned himself in at a police station in Charleville-Mézières, about 145 miles northeast of Paris. News reports said Mourad claimed to have an alibi, but it was unclear whether authorities still believed he had a link to the newspaper attack.A third suspect, Hamyd Mourad, 18, turned himself in at a police station in Charleville-Mézières, about 145 miles northeast of Paris. News reports said Mourad claimed to have an alibi, but it was unclear whether authorities still believed he had a link to the newspaper attack.
Paris prosecutors said they received an unexpected break in the case early: finding the national identity card of Said Kouachi in an abandoned getaway car, media reports said.Paris prosecutors said they received an unexpected break in the case early: finding the national identity card of Said Kouachi in an abandoned getaway car, media reports said.
In Paris, the bells at the Notre Dame cathedral tolled at noon to mark a minute of silence during a national day of mourning called for the worst terrorist attack in modern French history.In Paris, the bells at the Notre Dame cathedral tolled at noon to mark a minute of silence during a national day of mourning called for the worst terrorist attack in modern French history.
French President Francois Hollande called it “an exceptional act of barbarism.” Flags were at half-staff and, after sunset, authorities planned to switch off the lights of the Eiffel Tower.
“France has been struck directly in the heart of its capital, in a place where the spirit of liberty — and thus of resistance — breathed freely,” Hollande said Thursday. The weekly newspaper, Charlie Hebdo, announced Thursday that it would publish next week as normal.
[What is Charlie Hebdo?]
“France has been struck directly in the heart of its capital, in a place where the spirit of liberty — and thus of resistance — breathed freely,” French President Francois Hollande said Thursday.
Wednesday’s attack unfolded with chilling precision as hooded gunmen speaking fluent French burst into the newspaper’s weekly staff meeting and sprayed the room with gunfire, leaving behind what one witness described as “absolute carnage.”Wednesday’s attack unfolded with chilling precision as hooded gunmen speaking fluent French burst into the newspaper’s weekly staff meeting and sprayed the room with gunfire, leaving behind what one witness described as “absolute carnage.”
The death toll included 10 members of the staff, led by 47-year-old editor Stephane Charbonnier, and two police officers. The death toll included 10 members of the staff, led by 47-year-old editor Stéphane Charbonnier, and two police officers.
After shooting dead their final victim, the killers calmly fled the scene, sparking a massive dragnet and raising France’s security alert to its highest level.After shooting dead their final victim, the killers calmly fled the scene, sparking a massive dragnet and raising France’s security alert to its highest level.
The mass killing added Paris to a list of European capitals, including London and Madrid, that have experienced major terrorist attacks since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.The mass killing added Paris to a list of European capitals, including London and Madrid, that have experienced major terrorist attacks since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.
The assault came at a time of heightened anxiety across Europe about the threat of radical Islamist groups as thousands of young men and women from across the continent have poured into Syria to join the fight there. Many have come home radicalized by the experience.The assault came at a time of heightened anxiety across Europe about the threat of radical Islamist groups as thousands of young men and women from across the continent have poured into Syria to join the fight there. Many have come home radicalized by the experience.
It also touched one of the most sensitive fault lines in France: Those cherishing the country’s secular traditions and freedoms, and some members of Europe’s largest Muslim population that resist or resent Western-style openness.It also touched one of the most sensitive fault lines in France: Those cherishing the country’s secular traditions and freedoms, and some members of Europe’s largest Muslim population that resist or resent Western-style openness.
The weekly newspaper, Charlie Hebdo, announced Thursday that it would publish next week as normal. The younger Kouachi brother, Chérif, appeared to represent the trajectory of some French Muslims who perceived a life relegated to the margins. He increasingly fell under the influence of radical prayer groups and began watching videos of Islamist fighters in Iraq and elsewhere, his former lawyer said.
[What is Charlie Hebdo?] “He was part of a group of young people who were a little lost, confused, not really fanatics in the proper sense of the word,” Vincent Ollivier, his attorney in his previous terrorism case, told the newspaper Liberation. “He hadn’t really given any great thought to Islam and didn’t seem all that determined.”
In recent years, France has thrust itself to center stage in the war against Islamist extremism. In 2013, French forces joined those loyal to Mali’s government to push back an onslaught by Islamist militants. France was also the first nation to join the U.S.-led effort against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, conducting bombing raids. In recent years, France has thrust itself to center stage in the war against Islamist extremism.
In 2013, French forces joined those loyal to Mali’s government to push back an onslaught by Islamist militants. France was also the first nation to join the U.S.-led effort against the Islamic State insurgency in Syria and Iraq, conducting bombing raids.
In just the past several weeks, France has been particularly on edge. Before Christmas, a man yelling “God is great” in Arabic was shot after stabbing three police officers in a suburb of Tours in central France.In just the past several weeks, France has been particularly on edge. Before Christmas, a man yelling “God is great” in Arabic was shot after stabbing three police officers in a suburb of Tours in central France.
Also, 23 people were injured in Nantes and Dijon after men, in two separate incidents, drove vehicles into crowds. French officials deployed between 200 and 300 more military personnel on the streets last week, in addition to 780 already on the ground.
Just hours after the attack Wednesday, a somber crowd of thousands of Parisians converged on the Place de la Republique to show solidarity with the attack’s victims. Many bore handmade signs with the words “Je suis Charlie” — “I am Charlie” — and mourners spelled out the words in votive candles. The crowd periodically broke out in rhythmic chants of “Charlie!” — but was otherwise largely silent.Just hours after the attack Wednesday, a somber crowd of thousands of Parisians converged on the Place de la Republique to show solidarity with the attack’s victims. Many bore handmade signs with the words “Je suis Charlie” — “I am Charlie” — and mourners spelled out the words in votive candles. The crowd periodically broke out in rhythmic chants of “Charlie!” — but was otherwise largely silent.
“Charlie is exactly what France needs. They make us laugh and they make us think,” said Dominique Ragu, a cartographer who came to the rally with her daughter and father. “This was an attack on freedom of expression. It was an attack on humor.”“Charlie is exactly what France needs. They make us laugh and they make us think,” said Dominique Ragu, a cartographer who came to the rally with her daughter and father. “This was an attack on freedom of expression. It was an attack on humor.”
[See: How cartoonists reacted to the Charlie Hebdo massacre.][See: How cartoonists reacted to the Charlie Hebdo massacre.]
In Britain, authorities increased security at ports and border points. Other nations bordering France also stepped up monitoring of arriving travelers.In Britain, authorities increased security at ports and border points. Other nations bordering France also stepped up monitoring of arriving travelers.
Murphy reported from Washington. Daniela Deane in London, Virgile Demoustier in Paris, Karla Adam in London, Souad Mekhennet in Frankfurt, Germany, and Brian Murphy, William Branigin, Katie Zezima and Carol Morello in Washington contributed to this report.Murphy reported from Washington. Daniela Deane in London, Virgile Demoustier in Paris, Karla Adam in London, Souad Mekhennet in Frankfurt, Germany, and Brian Murphy, William Branigin, Katie Zezima and Carol Morello in Washington contributed to this report.