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Charlie Hebdo shooters: The ‘has-been’ jihadis considered too old for security surveillance Charlie Hebdo shooters: The 'has-been' jihadis considered too old for security surveillance
(about 11 hours later)
Like the Boston bombing in 2013, the Charlie Hebdo massacre has come to a tale of two brothers. The chief suspects, Chérif, 32, and Said Kouachi, 34, were said to be on the run last night in countryside 80 miles north-east of Paris.Like the Boston bombing in 2013, the Charlie Hebdo massacre has come to a tale of two brothers. The chief suspects, Chérif, 32, and Said Kouachi, 34, were said to be on the run last night in countryside 80 miles north-east of Paris.
The brothers are French. They were born in Paris, a few blocks from the scene of Wednesday’s savage attack. As small boys they were abandoned by their Algerian-born parents and brought up in a children’s home in Brittany.The brothers are French. They were born in Paris, a few blocks from the scene of Wednesday’s savage attack. As small boys they were abandoned by their Algerian-born parents and brought up in a children’s home in Brittany.
Chérif, especially, was well-known to French security. He has served two periods in prison after being linked to an Islamist network which sent  fighters to Iraq from 2003-06. Despite reports to the contrary, he does not appear to have fought, or received training, abroad. Although still under surveillance, he was regarded by French internal security as a low risk “has-been”.Chérif, especially, was well-known to French security. He has served two periods in prison after being linked to an Islamist network which sent  fighters to Iraq from 2003-06. Despite reports to the contrary, he does not appear to have fought, or received training, abroad. Although still under surveillance, he was regarded by French internal security as a low risk “has-been”.
Said, though older, has always been in Chérif’s shadow. He had never been seen as any sort of threat.Said, though older, has always been in Chérif’s shadow. He had never been seen as any sort of threat.
All French security’s efforts have been focused in recent months – with some success – on preventing domestic acts of terror by jihadis returning from Iraq and Syria. These men, mostly in their teens or twenties, are often recent recruits to the cause and, in some cases, recent converts. Chérif, and therefore Said, were overlooked as they belonged to a previous generation of home-grown extremists.All French security’s efforts have been focused in recent months – with some success – on preventing domestic acts of terror by jihadis returning from Iraq and Syria. These men, mostly in their teens or twenties, are often recent recruits to the cause and, in some cases, recent converts. Chérif, and therefore Said, were overlooked as they belonged to a previous generation of home-grown extremists.
Chérif, according to Vincent Ollivier, his former lawyer, went into his first prison term in 2006 as confused kid and emerged as a physically stronger radical. One of the Islamists with whom he consorted in jail was Salim Benghalem, now regarded by the US as a principal organiser of Isis in Syria.Chérif, according to Vincent Ollivier, his former lawyer, went into his first prison term in 2006 as confused kid and emerged as a physically stronger radical. One of the Islamists with whom he consorted in jail was Salim Benghalem, now regarded by the US as a principal organiser of Isis in Syria.
Was Wednesday’s attack an Isis operation? French security officials – perhaps covering their embarrassment – believe it was more likely a freelance attack, inspired by Isis, but not directly ordered or controlled from the Middle East. They were describing the brother’s yesterday as a “family terrorist cell”.Was Wednesday’s attack an Isis operation? French security officials – perhaps covering their embarrassment – believe it was more likely a freelance attack, inspired by Isis, but not directly ordered or controlled from the Middle East. They were describing the brother’s yesterday as a “family terrorist cell”.
The Charlie Hebdo assault was a bizarre mixture of chillingly professional and chaotic. The gunmen were calm, ruthless and heavily armed. On the other hand, they were extraordinarily feckless. They were rapidly identified as suspects when Chérif left his identity card in the car they crashed a mile from the massacre.The Charlie Hebdo assault was a bizarre mixture of chillingly professional and chaotic. The gunmen were calm, ruthless and heavily armed. On the other hand, they were extraordinarily feckless. They were rapidly identified as suspects when Chérif left his identity card in the car they crashed a mile from the massacre.
They had initially tried to storm the wrong building. And yesterday, rather than lying low, two men identified as the brothers pulled into a rural petrol station in the Aisne and ordered their car to be filled at gunpoint.They had initially tried to storm the wrong building. And yesterday, rather than lying low, two men identified as the brothers pulled into a rural petrol station in the Aisne and ordered their car to be filled at gunpoint.
Troops patrol in Paris the day after the terror attack at Charlie Hebdo's offices (Reuters) The Kouachis do not have the typical profile of converts to radical Islam. Aged four and two, they were placed in a children’s home in Rennes before being fostered by a local family, who had converted to Islam.Troops patrol in Paris the day after the terror attack at Charlie Hebdo's offices (Reuters) The Kouachis do not have the typical profile of converts to radical Islam. Aged four and two, they were placed in a children’s home in Rennes before being fostered by a local family, who had converted to Islam.
Chérif qualified as a sports teacher and worked briefly in Rennes – a 2005 Facebook post shows him rapping. The brothers moved to Paris and then the northern suburb where they became involved in petty theft and drug dealing. Ollivier remembers him in his early twenties as “an apprentice loser in a baseball hat”.Chérif qualified as a sports teacher and worked briefly in Rennes – a 2005 Facebook post shows him rapping. The brothers moved to Paris and then the northern suburb where they became involved in petty theft and drug dealing. Ollivier remembers him in his early twenties as “an apprentice loser in a baseball hat”.
“He smoked, drank, wore no beard and had girlfriends,” the lawyer said. “He was a confused kid who did not know what to do with his life and then, overnight, met people who persuade him that he was important.”“He smoked, drank, wore no beard and had girlfriends,” the lawyer said. “He was a confused kid who did not know what to do with his life and then, overnight, met people who persuade him that he was important.”
Chérif was first radicalised, said Ollivier, by the US-led invasion of Iraq. He was especially outraged by the images of mistreatment at Abu Graib prison. Even then, Ollivier said, Chérif recruited others but did not go himself, knowing that few foreign recruits lived long. He was convicted in 2006 of aiding and abetting a terrorist organisation and sentenced to 18 months in prison – a term which he had already served on remand.Chérif was first radicalised, said Ollivier, by the US-led invasion of Iraq. He was especially outraged by the images of mistreatment at Abu Graib prison. Even then, Ollivier said, Chérif recruited others but did not go himself, knowing that few foreign recruits lived long. He was convicted in 2006 of aiding and abetting a terrorist organisation and sentenced to 18 months in prison – a term which he had already served on remand.
In 2010, he was arrested and served another six months on remand on suspicion of belonging to jihadi group trying to spring a leader from jail. He was rereleased without trial after persuading investigators he had joined the group – and travelled to an alleged Auvergne training camp  – only to “play football”.In 2010, he was arrested and served another six months on remand on suspicion of belonging to jihadi group trying to spring a leader from jail. He was rereleased without trial after persuading investigators he had joined the group – and travelled to an alleged Auvergne training camp  – only to “play football”.
A member of the French National Police Intervention Groups is pictured in Corcy, near Villers-Cotterets, where the two armed suspects were spotted (Getty Images) Chérif appears then to have dropped off the security services’ radar. Said scarcely merited a blip on their screens.A member of the French National Police Intervention Groups is pictured in Corcy, near Villers-Cotterets, where the two armed suspects were spotted (Getty Images) Chérif appears then to have dropped off the security services’ radar. Said scarcely merited a blip on their screens.
Authorities believe the Charlie Hebdo attack had been long planned by Chérif. If so, why? What turned the jihadi “has-been” into a brutal killer? Was he guided from the Middle East? No answers are likely unless the brothers are captured alive.Authorities believe the Charlie Hebdo attack had been long planned by Chérif. If so, why? What turned the jihadi “has-been” into a brutal killer? Was he guided from the Middle East? No answers are likely unless the brothers are captured alive.
An 18-year-old man initially believed to have driven the killers’ car gave himself up to police yesterday. Mourad Hamyd – Chérif’s wife’s brother – told investigators he was at school in Charleville-Mézières, 180 miles from Paris on Wednesday morning. He is no longer regarded as a suspect.An 18-year-old man initially believed to have driven the killers’ car gave himself up to police yesterday. Mourad Hamyd – Chérif’s wife’s brother – told investigators he was at school in Charleville-Mézières, 180 miles from Paris on Wednesday morning. He is no longer regarded as a suspect.