French security forces kill gunmen, end hostage sieges

[Lite Beer]

French security forces kill gunmen, end hostage sieges
LORI HINNANT, Associated Press
ELAINE GANLEY, Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — With explosions and gunfire, security forces on Friday ended a three-day terror spree around Paris, killing the two al-Qaida-linked brothers who staged a murderous rampage at a satirical newspaper, and an associate who seized hostages at a kosher supermarket to try to help them escape.

The worst terrorist attacks France has seen in decades killed at least 20 people, including the three gunmen. A fourth suspect — the common law wife of the market attacker — was still at large and believed to be armed and dangerous.

Al-Qaida's branch in Yemen said it directed the attack against the publication Charlie Hebdo to avenge the honor of the Prophet Muhammad, a frequent target of the weekly's satire.

The brothers were not unknown to authorities: One had a terrorism-related conviction for ties to a network sending fighters to battle American forces in Iraq, and both were on the U.S. no-fly list, according to a U.S. official.

President Francois Hollande urged his nation to remain united and vigilant, and the city shut down a famed Jewish neighborhood amid fears of more violence.

"The threats facing France are not finished," Hollande said. "We are a free people who cave to no pressure."

The drama, which played out on live TV and social media, began with the brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi methodically massacring 12 people Wednesday at the Charlie Hebdo offices, stopping to shoot a wounded police officer in the head before escaping by car.

Thursday, a gunman police identified as Amedy Couliably shot a policewoman to death south of Paris, initially believed to be unrelated to the Charlie Hebdo shootings.

It all ended at dusk Friday with near-simultaneous raids in two locations: a printing plant in the town of Dammartin-en-Goele, northeast of Paris, where the Koachis were holed up with a lone hostage, and the Paris supermarket where Coulibaly held shoppers at gunpoint, threatening to kill them unless police let the Koachis go.

As scores of black-clad security forces surrounded both sites, booming explosions, heavy gunfire and dense smoke heralded the news that the twin sieges finally had ended.

The three gunmen were dead — but also killed were four of the hostages at the market. Sixteen hostages were freed, one from the printing plant and 15 others from the store.

The attackers had ties both to each other and to terrorist activities that reached back years and extended from Paris to al-Qaida in Yemen. They epitomized Western authorities' greatest fear: Islamic radicals who trained abroad and came home to stage attacks.

After the killings at the Charlie Hebdo offices, Cherif Kouachi, 32, and his 34-year-old brother Said led police on a chase around northeastern France, robbing a gas station and stealing a car before ending up at the printing plant in Dammartin-en-Goele, near Charles de Gaulle airport.

A member of the al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula provided a statement Friday in English to The Associated Press saying the group's leadership "directed the operations and they have chosen their target carefully."

The attack was in line with warnings from the late al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden to the West about "the consequences of the persistence in the blasphemy against Muslim sanctities," the member said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the group's regulations do not permit him to give his name.

He said the group has delayed its declaration of responsibility for "security reasons."

The brothers were cornered there for much of the day before the explosions and gunfire rang out in the twilight and a police SWAT team clambered onto the roof.

"They said they want to die as martyrs," Yves Albarello, a local lawmaker inside the command post, told French television station i-Tele.

At the kosher grocery near the Porte de Vincennes neighborhood in Paris, the gunman burst in shooting just a few hours before the Jewish Sabbath began, declaring "You know who I am," the official recounted. The attack came before sundown when the store would have been crowded with shoppers.

Paris police released a photo of Coulibaly and his wife, Hayat Boumeddiene, who the official said was an accomplice.

Several people who were wounded when the gunman opened fire in the grocery store fled and got medical care, the official said.

Minutes before police stormed both sites, Coulibaly had threatened to kill his five hostages if authorities launched an assault on the two brothers, a police official said.

BFM also said it spoke with Coulibaly, who said he and the Kouachis were coordinating their actions, and that he was with the militant Islamic State group. The organizations are normally rivals.

The TV station said Coulibaly didn't hang up properly after the phone call and that this allowed police to hear him saying a final prayer before his death, perhaps suggesting that this prompted the police raid.

Police said Coulibaly had been a co-suspect with Cherif Kouachi in a court case involving terrorism that never made it to trial.

The Paris mayor's office shut down all shops along Rosiers Street in the city's famed Marais neighborhood in the heart of the tourist district. Hours before the Jewish Sabbath, the street is usually crowded with shoppers — French Jews and tourists alike. The street is also only a kilometer (half a mile) from Charlie Hebdo's offices.

At the kosher grocery near the Porte de Vincennes neighborhood in Paris, the gunman burst in shooting just a few hours before the Jewish Sabbath began, declaring "You know who I am," the official recounted. The attack came before sundown when the store would have been crowded with shoppers.

Paris police released a photo of Coulibaly and his wife, Hayet Boumddiene, who the official said was his accomplice.

Several people wounded when Coulibaly opened fire in the grocery store were able to flee and get medical care, the official said.

One hundred students were locked down in nearby schools and the highway ringing Paris was closed.

Cherif Kouachi was convicted of terrorism charges in 2008 for ties to a network sending jihadis to fight U.S. forces in Iraq.

A Yemeni security official said his 34-year-old brother, Said Kouachi, is suspected of having fought for al-Qaida in Yemen. Another senior security official said Said was in Yemen until 2012.

Both officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of an ongoing investigation into Kouachi's stay in Yemen.

Both brothers were also on the U.S. no-fly list, a senior U.S. counterterrorism official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss foreign intelligence publicly.

The publication Charlie Hebdo had long drawn threats for its depictions of Islam, although it also satirized other religions and political figures. The weekly paper had caricatured the Prophet Muhammad, and a sketch of Islamic State's leader was the last tweet sent out by the irreverent newspaper, minutes before the attack.

Eight journalists, two police officers, a maintenance worker and a visitor were killed in the newspaper attack, including the paper's editor. Charlie Hebdo plans a special edition next week, produced in the offices of another paper.

Authorities around Europe have warned of the threat posed by the return of Western jihadis trained in warfare. France counts at least 1,200 citizens in the war zone in Syria — headed there, returned or dead. Both the Islamic State group and al-Qaida have threatened France, home to Western Europe's largest Muslim population.

___

Associated Press writers Samuel Petrequin, Sylvie Corbet, Jamey Keaten, John Leicester and Angela Charlton in Paris; Raphael Satter and Trung Latieule in Dammartin-en-Goele, Jill Lawless in London; Eric Tucker in Washington; Ahmed al-Hag in Sanaa, Yemen; Sarah el-Deeb in Cairo contributed to this report.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-01-10

[ExPratt]

I'd be interested to find out how the 4 poor sods who were hostages died. I think the French Police had no choice other than to go in after the culmination of the other siege

[Somtamnication]

I think two died before the siege. RIP to them . For the other two pigs, I hope the 72 virgins they were seeking are all hairy ladyboys.

[lazygourmet]

I'd be interested to find out how the 4 poor sods who were hostages died. I think the French Police had no choice other than to go in after the culmination of the other siege

According to France Info, they have been killed by the hostage taker at the beginning of the supermaket siege.

[smedly]

Interesting that the Prophet Muhammad guy is never around to answer questions, I'd lay money that he is flight black listed and in hiding down a sewer pipe somewhere

[NeverSure]

I have to wonder just how "inclusive" and PC the native European French people are feeling today.

RIP to the victims.

Rot in Hell to the Islamic terrorists.

Thank you to French law enforcement.

[keemapoot]

I have to wonder just how "inclusive" and PC the native European French people are feeling today.

RIP to the victims.

Rot in Hell to the Islamic terrorists.

Thank you to French law enforcement.

One can only hope that this tragic incident results in such people waking up to the realities, especially in the UK too. The US and its vigilance in these matters of homeland security has been demonized for many years by these same people, and rather than say "I told you so," we should merely support and help these societies in their quest to take back their countries and ways of life.

[neverdie]

Governments around the world should pay particular attention to what's occurred in Paris this week and Ramp up their efforts to get on top of these extremist b@stards and their sympathisers.

[Mosha]

I have to wonder just how "inclusive" and PC the native European French people are feeling today.

RIP to the victims.

Rot in Hell to the Islamic terrorists.

Thank you to French law enforcement.

One can only hope that this tragic incident results in such people waking up to the realities, especially in the UK too. The US and its vigilance in these matters of homeland security has been demonized for many years by these same people, and rather than say "I told you so," we should merely support and help these societies in their quest to take back their countries and ways of life.

Don't hold your breath.

[JimmyTheMook]

C'est Bon.

[Steely Dan]

So the two terrorists were on a U.S government no fly list. Why isn't there compulsory long term internment for all the trash Western governments deem a risk? If there are two many then just revoke their citizenship and drop them out of a plane over Iraq with or without a parachute.

P.s the point being that often the authorities know who the terrorists are but are too stretched to keep them all under surveillance.

[Manbing]

Its time to stop this blight of evil idiots. Given their absolute disregard for all life, where innocent people are hostages and their deaths are a statement of support for their god, its time to eradicate them like a cancer.

The basic tenant of tolerant western culture is live and let life.

If anything disagrees with this its got to be removed.

Kill these terrorists like a cancer.

Abdul Hamza just received life imprisonment in Colorado supermax prison, what a waste of a good bullet.

[uptheos]

Its time to stop this blight of evil idiots. Given their absolute disregard for all life, where innocent people are hostages and their deaths are a statement of support for their god, its time to eradicate them like a cancer.

The basic tenant of tolerant western culture is live and let life.

If anything disagrees with this its got to be removed.

Kill these terrorists like a cancer.

Abdul Hamza just received life imprisonment in Colorado superman prison, what a waste of a good bullet.

Indeed, it's time stop pussyfooting around anything Islamic and do what's needed to eradicate.

[HeijoshinCool]

The days of distinct uniforms and silly salutes is past. And in those days, if you were a combatant in civilian clothes, you were a spy, and that in itself was enough to get you the instant death penalty. War is war.

My point?

Well, if this is really a war on terror like all our governments keep saying, and one of these guys was convicted of attempting to aid a "known" terrorist organization, why was he still breathing? And why were those people in Gitmo released?

Weren't they all wearing civilian clothes?

[Lite Beer]

RT @markmackinnon: France's @Gendarmerie has started posting photos and video of the final assault in Dammartin to its Twitter account

[i claudius]

I think two died before the siege. RIP to them . For the other two pigs, I hope the 72 virgins they were seeking are all hairy ladyboys.

No they might like that, better hairy pigs,

[khaowong1]

Kudo's to the French Security forces.

[Jimbo2014]

Could be the new normal for France - Thailand has only had about 4000 - 14000 incidents in the south in recent times (article here somewhere). Other wonderful paradises include Pakistan, northern Nigeria, Mindanao Philippines, Indonesian Islands including Bali, iraq, Sudan, etc... What do you expect when you try to merge 7th century Arabia with 21st century living. See link below for a nice summary:

http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/quran/023-violence.htm

[Lite Beer]

RT @piersmorgan: Astonishing > RT @SteveDennis71: VIDEO: Extraordinary footage of police storming kocher supermarket #Parisattacks http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2edu5n_exclusif-france-2-les-images-du-face-a-face-entre-le-raid-et-amedy-coulibaly-lors-de-l-assaut-porte_news

[mania]

RT @piersmorgan: Astonishing > RT @SteveDennis71: VIDEO: Extraordinary footage of police storming kocher supermarket #Parisattacks http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2edu5n_exclusif-france-2-les-images-du-face-a-face-entre-le-raid-et-amedy-coulibaly-lors-de-l-assaut-porte_news

That looked insane

@40 seconds looks like the cops are shooting at each other in a cross fire as someone is running out with his head down?

The film is then clipped & restarted.

[wilcopops]

I think two died before the siege. RIP to them . For the other two pigs, I hope the 72 virgins they were seeking are all hairy ladyboys.

i find it quite pathetic that statements like this are the best some people can do to express their views/concern on this event.

[sangfroid]

I have to wonder just how "inclusive" and PC the native European French people are feeling today.

RIP to the victims.

Rot in Hell to the Islamic terrorists.

Thank you to French law enforcement.

One can only hope that this tragic incident results in such people waking up to the realities, especially in the UK too. The US and its vigilance in these matters of homeland security has been demonized for many years by these same people, and rather than say "I told you so," we should merely support and help these societies in their quest to take back their countries and ways of life.

Don't hold your breath.

+1

[NeverSure]

RT @piersmorgan: Astonishing > RT @SteveDennis71: VIDEO: Extraordinary footage of police storming kocher supermarket #Parisattacks http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2edu5n_exclusif-france-2-les-images-du-face-a-face-entre-le-raid-et-amedy-coulibaly-lors-de-l-assaut-porte_news

"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - author in dispute.

[baboon]

Someone buy those cops a drink from me..

[Kitsune]

Here are the 40 virgins awaiting the Kouachi Brothers in Muslim Heaven

[nuananddon]

Is this a turning point? In last 20 or so years the world has witnessed numerous terrorist attacks by these groups mostly against innocent unarmed civilians. Is it not time for free people and their governments to eradicate this disease. You're either with us or against us, take your choice, live peacefully or die, take NO prisoners. These people of radical Islam are like rabid dogs, once the disease is in their brains there is only one option, death!

[moe666]

RT @piersmorgan: Astonishing > RT @SteveDennis71: VIDEO: Extraordinary footage of police storming kocher supermarket #Parisattacks http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2edu5n_exclusif-france-2-les-images-du-face-a-face-entre-le-raid-et-amedy-coulibaly-lors-de-l-assaut-porte_news

"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - author in dispute.

I cannot agree people sleep peacefully because the citizens of their country will defend it, you do not have to be rough to support your country and protect your fellow citizen.

[Steely Dan]

Is this a turning point? In last 20 or so years the world has witnessed numerous terrorist attacks by these groups mostly against innocent unarmed civilians. Is it not time for free people and their governments to eradicate this disease. You're either with us or against us, take your choice, live peacefully or die, take NO prisoners. These people of radical Islam are like rabid dogs, once the disease is in their brains there is only one option, death!

Indeed, twenty innocent people murdered in France, like it or not this is far more newsworthy than the 5000 murdered by Islamic extremists worldwide last November. I think you may be right though, less than a month ago we had three so called lone wolf attacks in France, which we were told were unrelated, due to mentally ill individuals and nothing to do with Islam. Well the recent atrocities have buried that lie, hopefully once and for all. The west is fighting an ideological war with an alien hostile ideology, the murderers were doing no more than enforcing their own laws as they see them. Everyone who believes in Sharia law taking precedence over national laws is complicit in this, the numbers are huge, over 65% of Muslims polled in five continental European Countries. This can't end well, but I think it has now begun, we are at war.

[crusty]

Interesting that the Prophet Muhammad guy is never around to answer questions, I'd lay money that he is flight black listed and in hiding down a sewer pipe somewhere

More grounds not to these scumbags immigrate. Australia take note this is what happens when you allow the farkers in !

[The Deerhunter]

France is well and truly into the second stage of Jihad now, as are Thailand, and the Philippines. UK & probably Germany are in transition to the second stage