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| Police assault Paris kosher store where gunman took hostages | Police assault Paris kosher store where gunman took hostages |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| PARIS — Police stormed a kosher grocery store where a gunman who seized hostages Friday had threatened to kill them if police outside the French capital assaulted the hideout of the country's most-wanted terrorist suspects. | |
| Nearly simultaneously, police launched an assault on the hideout outside Paris of two brothers accused of carrying out a massacre Wednesday at the offices of the weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo. | Nearly simultaneously, police launched an assault on the hideout outside Paris of two brothers accused of carrying out a massacre Wednesday at the offices of the weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo. |
| French news media and officials reported that the hostage-taker at the kosher store and the two brothers were killed in the assaults. Officials said hostages at both locations were freed, but there were reports of deaths among the hostages at the kosher store. | |
| [Live blog: Latest updates on the shooting suspects and the hostage situation] | [Live blog: Latest updates on the shooting suspects and the hostage situation] |
| France’s ambassador to the United States, Gerard Araud, said on his Twitter account: “The kosher supermarket has been stormed. The terrorist is dead. The hostages are alive.” | |
| However, France 24 television and other news media reported that at least four hostages were killed at the kosher store. There was no immediate confirmation from officials. | |
| Araud also reported that the two brothers were dead and their lone hostage alive after the police assault northeast of Paris. | |
| “At least 12 hostages are free and safe from the grocery store, but there were more hostages than initially thought,” said Christophe Tirante, a senior police official. “Now it’s not clear how many wounded there are inside the store.” | |
| The raid came right at sundown, starting with three loud explosions. A short pause was followed by 30 seconds of sustained explosions and gunfire. The operation came without apparent warning. Amid the blasts, police manning a cordon several blocks away ordered bystanders to move farther back from the site, and parents shepherded screaming children into the shelter of nearby doorways. | |
| Moments before the raid, Anthony Revaux, 29, spoke on the phone with one of the grocery store hostages, a friend who was hiding in the building’s cold storage unit along with several others, including at least one child. | |
| “We’re very afraid, and we’re very cold. Tell the police to hurry,” the woman, whom Revaux identified as Noemi, told him. | |
| “Don’t panic,” he replied. “The police will do their best.” | |
| Revaux told her to conserve her phone’s battery, and the two hung up. | |
| Within minutes, the streets echoed with gunfire. | |
| Police said the gunman who took hostages inside the store in eastern Paris had links to the two brothers. 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 holed up with at least one hostage. | |
| Shortly afterward, an apparent assault began on the hideout of brothers Said and Chérif Kouachi, 34 and 32, and loud explosions were heard from the scene of the grocery store seizure. | |
| Authorities released photos of the Coulibaly and an alleged female accomplice, but her whereabouts were not immediately clear. | Authorities released photos of the Coulibaly and an alleged female accomplice, but her whereabouts were not immediately clear. |
| 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. | 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 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.” | 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 — 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Police believe that Coulibaly was the sole hostage-taker at the kosher grocery store, said Christophe Tirante, a senior police official. Coulibaly demanded that the Kouachi brothers, the Paris-born sons of Algerian parents, be allowed to go free, Tirante said before the police assault on the store. | Police believe that Coulibaly was the sole hostage-taker at the kosher grocery store, said Christophe Tirante, a senior police official. Coulibaly demanded that the Kouachi brothers, the Paris-born sons of Algerian parents, be allowed to go free, Tirante said before the police assault on the store. |
| “Coulibaly has asked that they let the brothers go,” Tirante said. “The demand is to let them leave and I’ll let the hostages go.” | “Coulibaly has asked that they let the brothers go,” Tirante said. “The demand is to let them leave and I’ll let the hostages go.” |
| Tirante said that police believe that the attackers all know each other, possibly from time in prison in 2005. | Tirante said that police believe that the attackers all know each other, possibly from time in prison in 2005. |
| “Kouachi and Coulibaly know each other,” Tirante said. Boumeddiene, who is also wanted in connection with Thursday’s killing of the policewoman, “has disappeared,” Tirante said, and Coulibaly was alone at the grocery store. French media identified Boumeddiene as Coulibaly’s wife. | “Kouachi and Coulibaly know each other,” Tirante said. Boumeddiene, who is also wanted in connection with Thursday’s killing of the policewoman, “has disappeared,” Tirante said, and Coulibaly was alone at the grocery store. French media identified Boumeddiene as Coulibaly’s wife. |
| At the kosher store, “there may be two deaths, it’s not clear,” Tirante said before the assault. The French Interior Ministry denied earlier Friday that anyone had been killed at the store during the hostage-taking. | At the kosher store, “there may be two deaths, it’s not clear,” Tirante said before the assault. The French Interior Ministry denied earlier Friday that anyone had been killed at the store during the hostage-taking. |
| Earlier Friday, riot police set up positions near the grocery in the Porte de Vincennes neighborhood on the eastern outskirts of Paris as helicopters flew overhead. | Earlier Friday, 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 Charlie Hebdo. | Outside the capital, thousands of police cornered the two suspects in Wednesday’s attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo. |
| 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 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. | 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 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. | 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.” | “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. | 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. | 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. |
| William Branigin 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 |
| - Police surround Charlie Hebdo shooting suspects | - Police surround Charlie Hebdo shooting suspects |
| - 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 |