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French officials: Hostage-takers killed at twin standoffs French police end twin standoffs, killing Charlie Hebdo terror suspects and an associate
(about 4 hours later)
DAMMARTIN-EN-GOELE, France — Security forces launched coordinated assaults at twin hostage standoffs Friday, freeing some captives and killing three gunmen, including brothers suspected in France’s worst terrorist attack in generations, officials said. DAMMARTIN-EN-GOELE, France — Security forces launched coordinated assaults at twin hostage standoffs Friday, freeing most captives and killing three gunmen, including two brothers suspected in France’s worst terrorist attack in generations.
The raids capped days of bloodshed and tensions that put the country on its highest security footing and exposed apparent connections between the attackers and al-Qaeda’s branch in Yemen. The raids capped days of bloodshed and tensions that put the country on its highest security footing and exposed apparent connections between the attackers and al-Qaeda’s branch in Yemen. Four hostages were killed at a kosher grocery store in Paris, where a gunman demanded that police allow the two brothers in Dammartin-en-Goele to go free.
At sundown, the police moved in. Gunfire and explosions rocked the two sites: A kosher market in Paris where a gunman held hostages, and an industrial park northeast of Paris where a lone hostage was held by two brothers wanted for Wednesday’s rampage at a satirical newspaper that left a dozen people dead. There also were loose ends, including at least one associated suspect at large and ongoing probes into whether they were part of a wider network in France.
France’s ambassador to the United States, Gerard Araud, posted Twitter messages that all three of the suspects had been killed and “hostages were safe.” Late Friday, al-Qaeda’s branch in Yemen claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s deadly attack on the Paris offices of a satirical newspaper, the Associated Press reported.
But it was unclear how many hostages were held at the market, possibly leading to conflicting reports. Earlier Friday, the French police moved in on both hostage sites. Gunfire and explosions rocked the two locations: The kosher grocery store in eastern Paris where a gunman seized a number of hostages, and an industrial park northeast of the capital where a lone hostage was held by two brothers wanted for the rampage Wednesday that targeted the newspaper Charlie Hebdo and left a dozen people dead, including the paper’s editor, several staffers and two police officers.
The Associated Press, citing two police officials, said three hostages died while others were freed. The officials did not say whether they were killed in crossfire or by their captor. Other reports said four hostages died. The brothers — Said and Cherif Kouachi, 34 and 32, French citizens of Algerian descent — came out firing their guns before being killed, police said. The hostage-taker at the kosher market, 32-year-old Amedy Coulibaly, appeared to offer the captives as bargaining chips to try to find an escape route for the cornered brothers.
France’s ambassador to the United States, Gerard Araud, posted Twitter messages that all three of the suspects had been killed and and that the hostages were “safe.”
Police said a total of 16 hostages were freed: one at the printing facility outside Paris and the rest from the kosher store.
In an address to the nation, French President Francois Hollande said four hostages were killed at the market.
According to France’s BFM TV, Coulibaly called the station hours before the police raid and said four hostages were dead inside the store. He said his action was “synchronized” with the Kouachi brothers.
[Live blog: Latest updates on the shooting suspects and the ongoing hostage situation][Live blog: Latest updates on the shooting suspects and the ongoing hostage situation]
As the hostage dramas unfolded, an apparent matrix took shape as police identified the gunman who seized the market as linked to the fatal shooting of a Paris policewoman on Thursday.As the hostage dramas unfolded, an apparent matrix took shape as police identified the gunman who seized the market as linked to the fatal shooting of a Paris policewoman on Thursday.
Earlier, investigators identified connections between the police slaying and the massacre at a newspaper in Paris, Charlie Hebdo, whose provocative images and content on Islam had brought threats and reprisals over the years, including a firebombing in 2011.Earlier, investigators identified connections between the police slaying and the massacre at a newspaper in Paris, Charlie Hebdo, whose provocative images and content on Islam had brought threats and reprisals over the years, including a firebombing in 2011.
The death toll Wednesday included the editor and other noted staff members.The death toll Wednesday included the editor and other noted staff members.
In an address to the nation, French President Francois Hollande praised security forces for the tandem operations and vowed to respond “with force” against terrorism. In a statement in English provided to the AP in Cairo on Friday, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) said, “The leadership of AQAP directed the operations, and they have chosen their target carefully.”
A member of the Yemen-based group who asked for anonymity told AP that the Charlie Hebdo attack was “revenge for the honor” of the prophet Muhammad. He said the organization did not claim responsibility earlier for “security reasons,” AP reported.
A senior security official in Yemen told The Washington Post on Friday that the older of the two brothers, Said Kouachi, visited the country in 2011 and linked up with AQAP. Kouachi may have met with Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born recruiter and propagandist for the group, before Awlaki was killed in a U.S. drone strike in September 2011, the official said.
In his speech, Hollande praised security forces for the tandem operations and vowed to respond “with force” against terrorism.
“France is not finished with these threats,” he said.“France is not finished with these threats,” he said.
In Dammartin-en-Goele, about 25 miles northeast of Paris, thousands of anti-terrorism forces encircled a printing plant. It followed days of intense searches that increasingly concentrated on villages and woodlands outside Paris after sightings of the suspects: Cherif Kouachi, 32, and his brother Said, 34. In Dammartin-en-Goele, about 25 miles northeast of Paris, thousands of anti-terrorism forces had massed after days of intense searches in villages and woodlands outside the French capital, following sightings of the Kouachi brothers.
The hunt quickly narrowed early Friday.
French authorities say the brothers exchanged fire with police before abandoning a stolen car and taking refuge inside the printing company, which apparently was selected at random. They took at least one hostage, but police gave no further details.French authorities say the brothers exchanged fire with police before abandoning a stolen car and taking refuge inside the printing company, which apparently was selected at random. They took at least one hostage, but police gave no further details.
In scenes reminiscent of other recent terror-related standoffs — including last month’s hostage-taking at a Sydney cafe — French police put the area under lockdown orders, asking people to stay indoors and turn off their lights as the drama played out on an overcast and drizzly afternoon.In scenes reminiscent of other recent terror-related standoffs — including last month’s hostage-taking at a Sydney cafe — French police put the area under lockdown orders, asking people to stay indoors and turn off their lights as the drama played out on an overcast and drizzly afternoon.
[Read: Shooting suspects tried to meet with al-Qaeda][Read: Shooting suspects tried to meet with al-Qaeda]
In separate developments, other links began to emerge.In separate developments, other links began to emerge.
First, police reported an apparent connection between the newspaper attack and the two suspects in the slaying of the policewoman in a southern Paris suburb.First, police reported an apparent connection between the newspaper attack and the two suspects in the slaying of the policewoman in a southern Paris suburb.
Then on Friday, one of the police shooting suspects, 32-year-old Amedy Coulibaly, was identified by police as the hostage-taker at the kosher market in Porte de Vincennes on the eastern edge of Paris. Then on Friday, one of the police shooting suspects, Coulibaly, a French citizen of Senegalese origin, was identified by police as the hostage-taker at the kosher market in Porte de Vincennes on the eastern edge of Paris.
A police official at the scene told the Associated Press that Coulibaly had threatened to kill the captives if police launched an assault against the brothers. The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, described the twin events as “clearly linked.” A police official at the scene told the AP that Coulibaly had threatened to kill the captives if police launched an assault against the brothers. The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, described the twin events as “clearly linked.”
In 2013, Coulibaly was sentenced to five years in prison for involvement in an attempt to help a militant Islamist, Smain Ait Ali Belkacem, escape from prison. Coulibay was released early. In 2013, Coulibaly was convicted of involvement in an attempt to help a militant Islamist, Smain Ait Ali Belkacem, escape from prison. Coulibaly was sentenced to five years but released early.
He previous served time in prison for crimes including armed robbery. Coulibay later took a job at a Coca-Cola plant outside Paris and, in 2009, passed high-level security clearance for a meeting with then President Nicolas Sarkozy to discuss youth employment programs. He previously served time in prison for crimes including armed robbery. Coulibaly later took a job at a Coca-Cola plant outside Paris and, in 2009, passed high-level security clearance for a meeting with then-President Nicolas Sarkozy to discuss youth employment programs.
Yet even as French officials weighed whether to lower the security threat levels around the country, they grappled with loose ends and worries over links to possible wider militant networks. Even as French officials weighed whether to lower the security threat levels around the country, they grappled with questions.
Coulibaly’s suspected accomplice in the police shooting — a woman identified as Hayet Boumddiene — remained at large. It was not immediately clear if she took part in the market hostage-taking and managed to slipped away. Coulibaly’s suspected accomplice in the police shooting — a woman identified as Hayet Boumeddiene — remained on the run. It was not immediately clear whether she took part in the market hostage-taking and managed to slipped away.
Intelligence experts also have begun to piece together apparent ties between the brothers and al-Qaeda-linked militants in Yemen. In 2013, the Yemen-based group published a notice called “Wanted Dead or Alive for Crimes Against Islam” featuring the late Stephane Charbonnier, the editor of Charlie Hebdo.Intelligence experts also have begun to piece together apparent ties between the brothers and al-Qaeda-linked militants in Yemen. In 2013, the Yemen-based group published a notice called “Wanted Dead or Alive for Crimes Against Islam” featuring the late Stephane Charbonnier, the editor of Charlie Hebdo.
France’s interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, said security forces “remain mobilized.”France’s interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, said security forces “remain mobilized.”
Full details from the raid on the printing plant were not immediately know.Full details from the raid on the printing plant were not immediately know.
But police said the brothers came out shooting, the AP reported. Yves Albarello, a lawmaker who said he was inside the police command post, told the station i-Tele that it appeared the brothers “want to die as martyrs.”
Earlier, Yves Albarello, a lawmaker who said he was inside the police command post, told the station i-Tele that it appeared the brothers — the Paris-born sons of Algerian immigrants — “want to die as martyrs.”
In an apparent brush with the fugitives, a businessman who had an appointment at the printing company said he shook hands with one of the armed suspects, believing he was a police special forces officer, France Info radio reported.In an apparent brush with the fugitives, a businessman who had an appointment at the printing company said he shook hands with one of the armed suspects, believing he was a police special forces officer, France Info radio reported.
The man, identified only as Didier, said the owner of the business was accompanied by an armed man clad in black and wearing a bulletproof vest. Didier said he believed the man at first was a police commando.The man, identified only as Didier, said the owner of the business was accompanied by an armed man clad in black and wearing a bulletproof vest. Didier said he believed the man at first was a police commando.
“We all shook hands and my client told me to leave,” Didier added. “We all shook hands, and my client told me to leave,” Didier added.
The armed man then added: “Go, we don’t kill civilians,” Didier recalled.The armed man then added: “Go, we don’t kill civilians,” Didier recalled.
“As I left, I didn’t know what it was. It wasn’t normal,” Didier said in the radio interview. “I did not know what was going on. Was it a hostage taking or a burglary?”“As I left, I didn’t know what it was. It wasn’t normal,” Didier said in the radio interview. “I did not know what was going on. Was it a hostage taking or a burglary?”
Stunned onlookers watched as police columns sealed off the town’s industrial zone, dotted with warehouses and cement block apartment buildings.Stunned onlookers watched as police columns sealed off the town’s industrial zone, dotted with warehouses and cement block apartment buildings.
“No one is safe,” said Kamel, a 46-year-old airport worker and nearby resident who declined to give his last name. ‘You don’t know what is going to happen next.’“No one is safe,” said Kamel, a 46-year-old airport worker and nearby resident who declined to give his last name. ‘You don’t know what is going to happen next.’
Fresh details emerged Thursday that one of the brothers had tried to meet with al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Yemen.Fresh details emerged Thursday that one of the brothers had tried to meet with al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Yemen.
U.S. officials said the older of the two, Said Kouachi, is believed to have traveled to Yemen in 2011 in an effort to link up with al-Qaeda’s affiliate there at a time when that group was eclipsing the terror network’s core leadership in Pakistan as the principal threat to the United States.U.S. officials said the older of the two, Said Kouachi, is believed to have traveled to Yemen in 2011 in an effort to link up with al-Qaeda’s affiliate there at a time when that group was eclipsing the terror network’s core leadership in Pakistan as the principal threat to the United States.
U.S. officials said Kouachi may have received small-arms training and picked up other skills while in Yemen, but they described the years that followed that 2011 visit as a “kind of hole” in the timeline, with significant gaps in authorities’ understanding of the brothers’ activities and whereabouts.U.S. officials said Kouachi may have received small-arms training and picked up other skills while in Yemen, but they described the years that followed that 2011 visit as a “kind of hole” in the timeline, with significant gaps in authorities’ understanding of the brothers’ activities and whereabouts.
Those blank spots have led U.S. and other officials to seek to determine whether one or both brothers traveled to Syria or another conflict zone, or whether they managed to lower their profile in France to such a degree that scrutiny of them subsided.Those blank spots have led U.S. and other officials to seek to determine whether one or both brothers traveled to Syria or another conflict zone, or whether they managed to lower their profile in France to such a degree that scrutiny of them subsided.
In Yemen, a security official told the AP that Said Kouachi is suspected of having fought for al-Qeada in the country. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of an ongoing investigation into the brothers. In Yemen, a security official told the AP that Said Kouachi is suspected of having fought for al-Qaeda in the country. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of an ongoing investigation into the brothers.
As the manhunt widened in recent days, French officials announced that they had taken nine people into custody in relation to the case. Authorities would not release their names, but French media said that those picked up in the dragnet included a sister of the men as well as her companion and the wife of Said Kouachi.As the manhunt widened in recent days, French officials announced that they had taken nine people into custody in relation to the case. Authorities would not release their names, but French media said that those picked up in the dragnet included a sister of the men as well as her companion and the wife of Said Kouachi.
“We will show these terrorists through the firm defense of the values of the republic that we are not afraid and that we remain united,” said Cazeneuve, the interior minister.“We will show these terrorists through the firm defense of the values of the republic that we are not afraid and that we remain united,” said Cazeneuve, the interior minister.
Thousands poured into Paris’s Place de la Republique on Thursday for a second night to honor the dead — including some of France’s best-known cartoonists at a publication that had lampooned Islam along with other targets. Thousands poured into Paris’s Place de la Republique on Thursday for a second night to honor the dead — who included some of France’s best-known cartoonists at a publication that had lampooned Islam along with other targets.
Many spoke of unity, with the Eiffel Tower shrouded in black Thursday evening, its lights doused in honor of the fallen. The slogan “Je suis Charlie” — I am Charlie — became ubiquitous in offices, on sidewalks and in public squares nationwide.Many spoke of unity, with the Eiffel Tower shrouded in black Thursday evening, its lights doused in honor of the fallen. The slogan “Je suis Charlie” — I am Charlie — became ubiquitous in offices, on sidewalks and in public squares nationwide.
And in a nation that is home to Western Europe’s largest Muslim population as well as the continent’s strongest anti-immigrant and extreme far-right movements, there were also fears of rising religious and political tensions in the aftermath of the attack.And in a nation that is home to Western Europe’s largest Muslim population as well as the continent’s strongest anti-immigrant and extreme far-right movements, there were also fears of rising religious and political tensions in the aftermath of the attack.
On Thursday, a man was arrested in the city of Poitiers after painting the words “Death to Arabs” on the gates of a mosque. In the city of Caromb, a car belonging to a Muslim family was shot at. In two other French cities, small explosives went off near mosques.On Thursday, a man was arrested in the city of Poitiers after painting the words “Death to Arabs” on the gates of a mosque. In the city of Caromb, a car belonging to a Muslim family was shot at. In two other French cities, small explosives went off near mosques.
No injuries were reported in any of the incidents, but they immediately ignited concerns about further ideological clashes, violent or otherwise.No injuries were reported in any of the incidents, but they immediately ignited concerns about further ideological clashes, violent or otherwise.
Marine Le Pen, the head of the far-right National Front, spoke out Thursday, calling her party the only one that had challenged the notion of “Islamic fundamentalism on our territory.”Marine Le Pen, the head of the far-right National Front, spoke out Thursday, calling her party the only one that had challenged the notion of “Islamic fundamentalism on our territory.”
But many in France said that the far right would not succeed in leveraging the attack for its own purposes, saying the nation was pulling together in tragedy, not being drawn apart.But many in France said that the far right would not succeed in leveraging the attack for its own purposes, saying the nation was pulling together in tragedy, not being drawn apart.
“In the last 24 hours, what I have seen is a sense of national responsibility, a sense of unity,” said Jean-Charles Brisard, a Paris-based terrorism and security expert. “We know they want to use this to tear us apart, to create division. But France will not allow that.”“In the last 24 hours, what I have seen is a sense of national responsibility, a sense of unity,” said Jean-Charles Brisard, a Paris-based terrorism and security expert. “We know they want to use this to tear us apart, to create division. But France will not allow that.”
Witte reported from Paris and and Murphy from Washington. Michael Birnbaum in Paris, Daniela Deane in London and Greg Miller in Washington contributed to this report. Witte reported from Paris and Murphy from Washington. Michael Birnbaum in Paris, Daniela Deane in London and Greg Miller in Washington contributed to this report.
Our full coverage of France shooting:Our full coverage of France shooting:
- Live blog: Latest updates from two standoffs- Live blog: Latest updates from two standoffs
- Hostake taking said to be linked to shooting of a policewoman- Hostake taking said to be linked to shooting of a policewoman
- Shooting suspects tried to meet with al-Qaeda- Shooting suspects tried to meet with al-Qaeda
- Map: Tracking the manhunt for the shooters- Map: Tracking the manhunt for the shooters