This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/paris-kosher-market-seized-in-second-hostage-drama-in-nervous-france/2015/01/09/f171b97e-97ff-11e4-8005-1924ede3e54a_story.html?wprss=rss_world

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Paris kosher market seized in second hostage drama in nervous France Paris kosher market seized in second hostage drama in nervous France
(35 minutes later)
PARIS — A gunman seized a kosher grocery store Friday and took hostages in a second standoff as police outside the French capital surrounded the country's most-wanted terrorist suspects.PARIS — A gunman seized a kosher grocery store Friday and took hostages in a second standoff as police outside the French capital surrounded the country's most-wanted terrorist suspects.
Police said the gunman who took at least five hostages inside the store in eastern Paris has links to two brothers accused of carrying out a massacre Wednesday at the offices of the weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo. They also blamed the hostage-taker for the murder Thursday of a French policewoman who was gunned down during an unrelated traffic stop on a Paris street, news agencies reported.
The gunman, identified by police as Amedy Coulibaly, 32, threatened to kill hostages in the kosher store if police stormed a commercial building in Dammartin-en-Goele, about 25 miles northeast of Paris, where the armed brothers suspected in the newspaper massacre were reported to be holed up with at least one hostage, the Associated Press reported.
There were conflicting reports about whether anyone had been killed at the store. The Agence France-Presse news agency earlier reported that at least two people were killed.There were conflicting reports about whether anyone had been killed at the store. The Agence France-Presse news agency earlier reported that at least two people were killed.
French media said at least five people were taken captive.
[Live blog: Latest updates on the shooting suspects and the hostage situation][Live blog: Latest updates on the shooting suspects and the hostage situation]
A possible matrix took shape as police identified the gunman who seized the market as linked to the fatal shooting of a Paris policewoman on Thursday. Authorities released photos of the Coulibaly and an alleged female accomplice, but her whereabouts were not immediately clear.
Earlier, investigators identified connections between the police slaying and Wednesday’s rampage a satirical newspaper in Paris that left a dozen people dead, news reports said. Earlier, investigators identified connections between the slaying of the policewoman and Wednesday’s rampage a satirical newspaper in Paris that left a dozen people dead.
“I have learned with horror of a hostage-taking that has started at Porte de Vincennes and am going there immediately,” Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo wrote on Twitter.“I have learned with horror of a hostage-taking that has started at Porte de Vincennes and am going there immediately,” Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo wrote on Twitter.
Hayat Boumeddiene, a 26-year-old woman, and Amedy Coulibaly, a 32-year-old man, are “suspected to be armed and dangerous,” according to the French police, and are being sought in connection with the Thursday killing of a female police officer in Paris. The police said they believe the killing was a “terrorist enterprise.” Hayat Boumeddiene, a 26-year-old woman, and Coulibaly are “suspected to be armed and dangerous,” according to the French police, and are being sought in connection with the Thursday killing of the female police officer in Paris. The police said they believe the killing was a “terrorist enterprise.”
Several ambulances were seen rushing toward the grocery store, where the hostage-taking took place hours before the Jewish Sabbath started on Friday night, a particularly busy time for a kosher shop. Several ambulances were seen rushing toward the grocery store — called Hyper Cacher, or Hyper Kosher — where the hostage-taking took place hours before the Jewish Sabbath started on Friday night, a particularly busy time for a kosher shop.
Riot police set up positions near the grocery in the Porte de Vincennes neighborhood on the eastern outskirts of Paris. Helicopters passed overhead, and ambulances raced to the scene. A police official said several people were wounded when the gunman opened fire in the store Friday afternoon but were able to flee and get medical care, AP reported. It was not immediately clear whether other wounded people remained inside the store, or whether Boumeddienne was inside with him.
According to a police source cited by France 24 television, at least one person was wounded at the store Hyper Cacher, or Hyper Kosher. Riot police set up positions near the grocery in the Porte de Vincennes neighborhood on the eastern outskirts of Paris as helicopters flew overhead.
Outside the capital, thousands of police cornered the two suspects in Wednesday’s attack on the offices of the Paris weekly newspaper, Charlie Hebdo. Outside the capital, thousands of police cornered the two suspects in Wednesday’s attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo — brothers Said and Chérif Kouachi, 34 and 32, the Paris-born sons of Algerian parents.
Like the two suspects in the Charlie Hebdo attack, Coulibaly appears to have been well-known to French authorities for years before Thursday’s killing of the policewoman on a quiet Paris street.Like the two suspects in the Charlie Hebdo attack, Coulibaly appears to have been well-known to French authorities for years before Thursday’s killing of the policewoman on a quiet Paris street.
Starting in 2001, Coulibaly was repeatedly held for crimes ranging from theft to drug trafficking, according to French media reports. In 2013, he was sentenced to five years in prison for involvement in an attempt to help another militant Islamist, Smain Ait Ali Belkacem, escape from prison, Paris newspapers reported. Starting in 2001, Coulibaly was repeatedly held for crimes ranging from theft to drug trafficking, according to French media reports. In 2013, he was convicted of involvement in an attempt to help another militant Islamist, Smain Ait Ali Belkacem, escape from prison, Paris newspapers reported. Coulibaly was later released.
Blocks from the grocery store siege, Jewish and Muslim residents of the low-slung, middle-class neighborhood of Porte de Vincennes stood anxiously together behind police lines, awaiting news.Blocks from the grocery store siege, Jewish and Muslim residents of the low-slung, middle-class neighborhood of Porte de Vincennes stood anxiously together behind police lines, awaiting news.
Two women who worked at the store sobbed as they frantically dialed the numbers of friends. They had been off work when the gunman entered. One said she received a call from a colleague who could only get out the words “people are shooting” before the line was cut. She has not been able to reach him since.Two women who worked at the store sobbed as they frantically dialed the numbers of friends. They had been off work when the gunman entered. One said she received a call from a colleague who could only get out the words “people are shooting” before the line was cut. She has not been able to reach him since.
“It’s normal grocery store — everyone goes there,” said the woman, who declined to give her name.“It’s normal grocery store — everyone goes there,” said the woman, who declined to give her name.
“It’s a kosher store, but not only Jews go there. I go there,” said Malik Zadi, a 25-year-old Muslim of Algerian heritage. “In this neighborhood, there are Muslims, Jews, Christians. It’s like Paris. It’s a melting pot. Cohabitation.”“It’s a kosher store, but not only Jews go there. I go there,” said Malik Zadi, a 25-year-old Muslim of Algerian heritage. “In this neighborhood, there are Muslims, Jews, Christians. It’s like Paris. It’s a melting pot. Cohabitation.”
Sam Cohen, a 22-year-old Jewish resident who is also of Algerian heritage, said members of the community get along well together — regardless of faith.Sam Cohen, a 22-year-old Jewish resident who is also of Algerian heritage, said members of the community get along well together — regardless of faith.
But he said he worried that the attacks of the past three days have unleashed a wave of violence with no end.But he said he worried that the attacks of the past three days have unleashed a wave of violence with no end.
“This is only the beginning for what’s awaiting France,” said Cohen, who wore a black hoodie and a black kippah. “Everyone’s going to grab a weapon, and there will be more and more dead every day.”“This is only the beginning for what’s awaiting France,” said Cohen, who wore a black hoodie and a black kippah. “Everyone’s going to grab a weapon, and there will be more and more dead every day.”
The attacker struck as residents did their regular Friday shopping ahead of sundown and the start of the Jewish sabbath.
The hostages were believed to be a combination of customers and store employees.
“They were only targeted because they were Jewish,” said one of the women who works at the shop. “They’re just normal people trying to do their jobs.”
As the siege extended late into the afternoon, an eery quiet descended on the normally bustling neighborhood, filled with cafés and grand old 19th century apartment buildings.
Parents shuttled kids home from school through streets swarming with helmeted police brandishing assault rifles. The subway station was shuttered, and all traffic was diverted far from the scene.
Our full coverage of France shooting:
- Live blog: Latest updates from two standoffs
- Police surround Charlie Hebdo shooting suspects
- Shooting suspects tried to meet with al-Qaeda
- Map: Tracking the manhunt for the shooters