French police ID gunmen who killed 12 in attack on newspaper

[webfact]

French police hunt gunmen who killed 12 at weekly newspaper
JAMEY KEATEN, Associated Press
ELAINE GANLEY, Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — Police hunted for three heavily armed men with possible links to al-Qaida in the military-style, methodical killing of 12 people Wednesday at the office of a satirical newspaper that caricatured the Prophet Muhammad.

President Francois Hollande, visiting the scene of France's deadliest such attack in more than half a century, called the assault on the weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo "an act of exceptional barbarism."

France raised its terror alert system to the maximum — Attack Alert — and bolstered security with more than 800 extra soldiers to guard media offices, places of worship, transport and other sensitive areas. Fears had been running high in France and elsewhere in Europe that jihadis returning from conflicts in Syria and Iraq would stage attacks at home.

Two officials identified the suspects as French brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi, in their early 30s, and 18-year-old Hamyd Mourad, whose nationality wasn't immediately clear.

Heavily armed police moved into the city of Reims, in France's Champagne country east of Paris, apparently searching for the suspects. Video from BFM-TV showed police dressed in white apparently taking samples inside an apartment. It was not immediately clear who lived there.

One of the police officials said they were linked to a Yemeni terrorist network, and Cedric Le Bechec, a witness who encountered the escaping gunmen, quoted the attackers as saying: "You can tell the media that it's al-Qaida in Yemen."

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the sensitive and ongoing investigation.

Cherif Kouachi was sentenced to 18 months in prison after being convicted of terrorism charges in 2008 for helping funnel fighters to Iraq's insurgency. He said he was outraged at the torture of Iraqi inmates at the U.S. prison at Abu Ghraib near Baghdad.

The masked, black-clad men with assault rifles stormed the offices near Paris' Bastille monument in the Wednesday noontime attack on the publication, which had long drawn condemnation and threats — it was firebombed in 2011 — for its depictions of Islam, although it also satirized other religions and political figures.

Shouting "Allahu akbar!" as they fired, the men used fluent, unaccented French as they called out the names of specific employees.

Artist Corinne Rey told the French newspaper L'Humanite that she punched in the security code to the Charlie Hebdo offices after she and her young daughter were "brutally threatened" by the gunmen.

Eight journalists, two police officers, a maintenance worker and a visitor were killed, said prosecutor Francois Molins. He said 11 people were wounded — four of them seriously.

After fleeing, the attackers collided with another vehicle, then carjacked another car before disappearing in broad daylight, Molins said.

Among the dead: the paper's editor, Stephane Charbonnier.

The staff was in an editorial meeting and the gunmen headed straight for Charbonnier — widely known by his pen name Charb — killing him and his police bodyguard first, said Christophe Crepin, a police union spokesman.

Rey said the assault "lasted five minutes. I hid under a desk."

Two gunmen strolled out to a black car waiting below, one of them calmly shooting a wounded police officer in the head as he writhed on the ground, according to video and a man who watched in fear from his home across the street.

The witness, who refused to allow his name to be used because he feared for his safety, said the attackers were so methodical he first thought they were members of France's elite anti-terrorism forces. Then they fired on the officer.

"They knew exactly what they had to do and exactly where to shoot. While one kept watch and checked that the traffic was good for them, the other one delivered the final coup de grace," he said.

"Hey! We avenged the Prophet Muhammad! We killed Charlie Hebdo," one of the men shouted in French, according to video shot from a nearby building.

The other dead were identified as cartoonists Georges Wolinski and Berbard Verlhac, better known as Tignous, and Jean Cabut, known as "Cabu." Also killed was Bernard Maris, an economist who was a contributor to the newspaper and was heard regularly on French radio.

Le Bechec, the witness who encountered the gunmen in another part of Paris, described on his Facebook page seeing two men "get out of a bullet-ridden car with a rocket-launcher in hand, eject an old guy from his car and calmly say hi to the public, saying 'you can tell the media that it's al-Qaida in Yemen.'"

Charlie Hebdo has been repeatedly threatened for its caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad and other sketches. One cartoon, released in this week's issue and titled "Still No Attacks in France," had a caricature of a jihadi fighter saying "Just wait — we have until the end of January to present our New Year's wishes." Charb was the artist.

In a somber address to the nation Wednesday night, Hollande pledged to hunt down the killers, and pleaded with his compatriots to come together in a time of insecurity and suspicion.

"Let us unite, and we will win," he said. "Vive la France!"

France raised its security alert to the highest level and reinforced protective measures at houses of worship, stores, media offices and transportation. Schools closed across Paris, although thousands of people later jammed Republique Square near the site of the shooting to honor the victims, waving pens and papers reading "Je suis Charlie" — "I am Charlie." Similar rallies were held in London's Trafalgar Square as well as Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin and Brussels.

"This is the darkest day of the history of the French press," said Christophe DeLoire of Reporters Without Borders.

Both al-Qaida and the Islamic State group have repeatedly threatened to attack France, which is conducting airstrikes against extremists in Iraq and fighting Islamic militants in Africa.

During Cherif Kouachi's 2008 trial, he told the court, "I really believed in the idea" of fighting the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq.

In the winter 2014 edition of the al-Qaida magazine Inspire, a so-called chief describing where to use a new bomb said: "Of course the first priority and the main focus should be on America, then the United Kingdom, then France and so on."

In 2013, the magazine specifically threatened Charb and included an article titled "France the Imbecile Invader."

The attack was condemned by world leaders.

President Barack Obama offered U.S. help in pursuing the gunmen, saying they had attacked freedom of expression. He offered prayers and support for France, which he called "America's oldest ally."

British Prime Minister David Cameron said his country stood united with France,

"We stand squarely for free speech and democracy. These people will never be able to take us off those values," Cameron said in the House of Commons.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also condemned the attack as a "cynical crime," and pledged cooperation in fighting terrorism.

"I think all of Europe is crying today," said Italian Premier Matteo Renzi. "All the free world is crying. All men and women who believe in freedom and reason are crying."

Salman Rushdie, who spent years in hiding after his novel, "The Satanic Verses," drew a death edict from Iran's religious authorities, said all must stand with Charlie Hebdo "to defend the art of satire, which has always been a force for liberty and against tyranny, dishonesty and stupidity."

Mohammed Moussaoui, president of the Union of French mosques, condemned the "hateful act," and urged Muslims and Christians "to intensify their actions to give more strength to this dialogue, to make a united front against extremism."

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation based in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, which represents 57 Muslim-majority nations, added its condemnation, saying that violence and radicalism were the biggest enemies of Islam and went against all its fundamental principles and values.

A tweet from an al-Qaida representative who communicated Wednesday with The Associated Press said the group was not claiming responsibility for the attack, but called it "inspiring."

Supporters of militant Islamic groups praised it. One self-described Tunisian loyalist of al-Qaida and the Islamic State group tweeted that the attack was well-deserved revenge against France.

The hashtag #JeSuisCharlie was trending as people expressed support for the weekly and for journalistic freedom. The weekly's website collapsed earlier Wednesday but was later restored.

It was the deadliest attack on journalists since 2009, when 32 journalists were killed in an ambush on a political convoy in the southern Philippines.

Philippe Val, one-time Charlie Hebdo chief, raised the possibility of publishing a special edition of the newspaper, saying "a way of speaking has been exterminated."

"We must respond, because we must testify for them," he told RTL radio.
___

Associated Press writers Lori Hinnant, Samuel Petrequin, Angela Charlton, Sylvie Corbet and John Leicester in Paris; Raphael Satter in London; Sarah el-Deeb in Cairo; Zeina Karam and Diaa Hadid in Beirut; and Aya Batrawy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this story.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-01-08

[siampolee]

So when one reads the OP. it would seem as if the French security services were aware of who these creatures were and what they believed in and stood for,yet no actions were it appears were taken to restrict the movement or activities of these creatures.

Questions need to be asked as to why there were no actions taken by those supposedly in charge of both internal and external security matters in France and elsewhere too..

[Kooweerup]

http://www.9news.com.au/World/2015/01/07/22/36/Ten-people-shot-dead-after-gunman-storm-French-magazine-office

[maidee]

religion of peace, right

[Scott]

Conspiracy post and reply removed.

[FinChin67]

religion of peace, right

[IAMHERE]

"He said he was outraged at the torture of Iraqi inmates at the U.S. prison at Abu Ghraib near Baghdad."

Only reason these guys knew about Abu Ghraib was journalist. So, kill the messenger. Stupid as well as savage. This is not religious, it is political. Their politics are only masked in religion as National Socialism used Nietsche and communist use Marx.

[webfact]

BREAKING: Judicial official: 1 man sought in Paris newspaper shooting surrenders; 2 sought by police. /AP

[F4UCorsair]

"He said he was outraged at the torture of Iraqi inmates at the U.S. prison at Abu Ghraib near Baghdad."

Only reason these guys knew about Abu Ghraib was journalist. So, kill the messenger. Stupid as well as savage. This is not religious, it is political. Their politics are only masked in religion as National Socialism used Nietsche and communist use Marx.

Muslims will always be 'outraged' about something.

Anything.

Pat Condell calls it the religion of permanent offence.

Regardless of what others call it, I call it a disgusting, disgraceful, barbaric 'religion' populated by disgusting, disgraceful barbarians.

Edited January 8, 2015 by F4UCorsair

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Judicial official: 1 surrenders in French shooting, 2 sought
By JAMEY KEATEN and ELAINE GANLEY

PARIS (AP) — A French judicial official says one man sought in the deadly shooting at a French satirical paper has turned himself in to police.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing, said the man surrendered voluntarily.

Early Thursday, French police released images of the two other suspects, named as Cherif Kouachi and Said Kouachi, saying they should be considered armed and dangerous.

Twelve people died in the shooting Wednesday in central Paris at the offices of Charlie Hebdo.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-01-08

[wabothai]

RIP victims of this brutal murder. I wish strenght for all family members and friends.

[DaveinAsia]

The big question that arises; Could it be possible that the French government knew this was going to happen but let it happen anyway? How else can they already know who carried out this act, the shooters were wearing balaclavas and managed to escape to an undisclosed location. Inside information somehow. False flag operation perhaps?

[Christie Paul]

The big question that arises; Could it be possible that the French government knew this was going to happen but let it happen anyway? How else can they already know who carried out this act, the shooters were wearing balaclavas and managed to escape to an undisclosed location. Inside information somehow. False flag operation perhaps?

Of course not. It was religious nut jobs. Horrible Muslims, we've got the proof, they left their ID's behind.

This is not about pipelines, wars over resources, a bankrupt west that needs a war, this is about headscarves, insulting the prophet - it's about crazy people. Don't you get it.

Any bye the way you're not supposed to think, you're supposed to react.

[Christie Paul]

"He said he was outraged at the torture of Iraqi inmates at the U.S. prison at Abu Ghraib near Baghdad."

Only reason these guys knew about Abu Ghraib was journalist. So, kill the messenger. Stupid as well as savage. This is not religious, it is political. Their politics are only masked in religion as National Socialism used Nietsche and communist use Marx.

Interesting.

You'd think that if these terrorists had issues with government policies, they'd attack government facilities.

But that wouldn't have quite the desired effect would it?

If a group Libyans attacked the French State, after it led the unprovoked bombing of their country to rubble - many would be saying "well, they had it coming".

Better to attack loved journalists or maybe a litter of kittens.

What is required here is public outrage.

[Morch]

The big question that arises; Could it be possible that the French government knew this was going to happen but let it happen anyway? How else can they already know who carried out this act, the shooters were wearing balaclavas and managed to escape to an undisclosed location. Inside information somehow. False flag operation perhaps?

Of course not. It was religious nut jobs. Horrible Muslims, we've got the proof, they left their ID's behind.

This is not about pipelines, wars over resources, a bankrupt west that needs a war, this is about headscarves, insulting the prophet - it's about crazy people. Don't you get it.

Any bye the way you're not supposed to think, you're supposed to react.

Not mutually exclusive.

[Morch]

"He said he was outraged at the torture of Iraqi inmates at the U.S. prison at Abu Ghraib near Baghdad."

Only reason these guys knew about Abu Ghraib was journalist. So, kill the messenger. Stupid as well as savage. This is not religious, it is political. Their politics are only masked in religion as National Socialism used Nietsche and communist use Marx.

Interesting.

You'd think that if these terrorists had issues with government policies, they'd attack government facilities.

But that wouldn't have quite the desired effect would it?

If a group Libyans attacked the French State, after it led the unprovoked bombing of their country to rubble - many would be saying "well, they had it coming".

Better to attack loved journalists or maybe a litter of kittens.

What is required here is public outrage.

Pretty much outlines one way to differentiate between terrorists and freedom fighters.

Attacking a government office or facility - for many people that is not always "we the people" but rather the greedy bunch that takes their hard earned money. Scarier when directed at fellow ordinary people, and much easier for the attackers to pull this through.

[TSF]

So when one reads the OP. it would seem as if the French security services were aware of who these creatures were and what they believed in and stood for,yet no actions were it appears were taken to restrict the movement or activities of these creatures.

Questions need to be asked as to why there were no actions taken by those supposedly in charge of both internal and external security matters in France and elsewhere too..

Problem is our government security agencies usually know who these ratbags are and that they are planning something, but the way society is today they are powerless to act. If they go anywhere near these guys BEFORE they do their vile deeds then a swarm of lawyers and civil rights people come flying at the government with law suits, screaming Islam-phobia and racism.

Remember Dr Mohamed Haneef in Australia? His phone number was found on the mobile of the Muslim terrorists who hit Glasgow airport. Aussie cops had a direct link so they picked Haneef up. Result the Australian government was successfully sued for several million dollars by Haneef lawyers. So the Aussie gov' was damned if they do and damned if they don't. Just imagine the public outcry if they HAD NOT picked up & detained Haneef, and Haneef had carried out a terrorist attack in Australia.

[chotthee]

Only if France have law similar to the infamous Thai LM 112, these dozen journalists would be living happily in European jail rather than miserable 6 ft under. Always look at the bright side of life, rather than the dark side of death.

[Jonmarleesco]

'... 18-year-old Hamyd Mourad, whose nationality wasn't immediately clear.' Well, it was certainly no more French than Kouachi.

[allan michaud]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

religion of peace, right

Just like all those peace loving fundamentalist Christians? Generally speaking religions are not peaceful, it's more a case of my way or the highway, which is why I am an atheist.

[zydeco]

Looks like Christie Paul has been hanging out at the Paul Craig Roberts (aka Alex Jones in a suit and tie) website again.

[arjunadawn]

"He said he was outraged at the torture of Iraqi inmates at the U.S. prison at Abu Ghraib near Baghdad."

Only reason these guys knew about Abu Ghraib was journalist. So, kill the messenger. Stupid as well as savage. This is not religious, it is political. Their politics are only masked in religion as National Socialism used Nietsche and communist use Marx.

I had elsewhere noted there are always multiple audiences for islamic jiahdists. Invariably what is said to the west is not what is said to other muslims to justify their actions. This disconnect allows the west to constantly remain off guard, thinking foreign armies in the desert, abu garhib, etc, etc, ad nasuea are the reasons for their actions. In fact, numerous western apologists pick up these BS declarations and repeat them.

But what the jihadists say to other muslims nearly always cites scripture and authority and this is one of the reason the larger islamic world remains silent. It is only the attacked who remain uncertain of their footing, and denial and self loathing that make them believe that the West itself is responsible for its own injuries. Poppycock!

Your point that it is political is a minority point of view, but you are also (1/2) correct. It is also political and that is why it has these two faces- religious and fascist. After all, it is the underlying ideology- the blueprint for world domination contained in the shar'ia, that is the fascism.

An interesting proponent of Shar'ia brings voice to the aims that appear political to you, and religious to others:

http://insider.foxnews.com/2015/01/07/hannity-clashes-radical-imam-anjem-choudary-following-charlie-hebdo-terror-attack

Anjem Choudary most definitely reflects a vast islamic point of view. Moreover, islamic jihad knows they have a green light.

[Christie Paul]

Looks like Christie Paul has been hanging out at the Paul Craig Roberts (aka Alex Jones in a suit and tie) website again.

No I haven't.

But I don't mind the views of the former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan Administration, Paul Craig Roberts.

Alex Jones gets on my nerves.

[MaxYakov]

So when one reads the OP. it would seem as if the French security services were aware of who these creatures were and what they believed in and stood for,yet no actions were it appears were taken to restrict the movement or activities of these creatures.

Questions need to be asked as to why there were no actions taken by those supposedly in charge of both internal and external security matters in France and elsewhere too..

Absolutely! A disgusting dereliction of France's obligation to become a totalitarian, police state as well as Canada with the Ottawa shootings and the USA with the 2009 Fort Hood shooting (aka "workplace violence").

I'm sure North Korea certainly would have not let something like this (workplace violence?) happen.

You got how many likes?

Edited January 8, 2015 by MaxYakov

[MaxYakov]

"He said he was outraged at the torture of Iraqi inmates at the U.S. prison at Abu Ghraib near Baghdad."

Only reason these guys knew about Abu Ghraib was journalist. So, kill the messenger. Stupid as well as savage. This is not religious, it is political. Their politics are only masked in religion as National Socialism used Nietsche and communist use Marx.

No, it is not political. This is war and has been for some time, in case you hadn't noticed.

[Mosha]

They were known to the police

[umbanda]

Morals...Do not mess with Religion...

[arjunadawn]

"He said he was outraged at the torture of Iraqi inmates at the U.S. prison at Abu Ghraib near Baghdad."

Only reason these guys knew about Abu Ghraib was journalist. So, kill the messenger. Stupid as well as savage. This is not religious, it is political. Their politics are only masked in religion as National Socialism used Nietsche and communist use Marx.

No, it is not political. This is war and has been for some time, in case you hadn't noticed.

I think since MaxYakov and I both locked onto this point about "political" I would like to clarify my earlier remarks.

Yes, it is war and it makes no difference whether the West holds this to be true or not, it is a face. But there is a political component in both the jihad and the application of Shar'ia. "Lawfare" is a means whereby jihad is conducted within the framework of western systems to undermine and gum up the gears. In this regard the political face of this war of jihad exists, but it is totally religious. There can be no persuasive argument put forth that this worldwide epidemic is not religious. It is not possible.

[ableguy]

"He said he was outraged at the torture of Iraqi inmates at the U.S. prison at Abu Ghraib near Baghdad."

Only reason these guys knew about Abu Ghraib was journalist. So, kill the messenger. Stupid as well as savage. This is not religious, it is political. Their politics are only masked in religion as National Socialism used Nietsche and communist use Marx.

Muslims will always be 'outraged' about something.

Anything.

So please please revive the water boarding, do unto others as they would do unto you..

[wooloomooloo]

Morals...Do not mess with Religion...

Why?