Conflicting reports on suspects
Numerous media have reported their names are Saïd Kouachi, 34, his brother Chérif Kouachi 33, and Hamyd Mourad, 19. Officials have said all three are French-born jihadists.
A number of media outlets reported that after their carnage they fled to the city of Reims, north of Paris, and that an operation there lead to the capture of two and the death of the other. Two senior counter-terrorism officials in the U.S. were among those who reported two were captured and one killed; they spoke to NBC News and the Associated Press but did not reveal their names.
Later the two unnamed counter-terrorism officals said their sources may have been wrong. Other reports have said that one of the suspects, the younger man, gave himself up to police and the other two continue to be hunted. The man in custody has said he was not involved.
Attack on Charlie Hebdo
During the attack at the offices of the magazine at about 11:30 a.m., one attacker waited in a vehicle while two with Kalashnikov rifles, a shotgun, and possibly a rocket-propelled grenade launcher entered the building. In total some fifty shots were fired and 12 were killed, with eleven others wounded, four of whom are reported in critical condition.
The two who entered the building were wearing balaclavas, wearing army boots and clad in black. They were said to have conducted their attack with military precision. During it they repeatedly shouted they were avenging the Prophet.
Among those killed were the magazine’s top editor, Stephane Charbonnier, three cartoonists, Jean Cabut, Georges Wolinski and Bernard Verlhac, and at least two policeman, one who was assigned to protect Charbonnier, who had been threatened with death more than once. One officer was shot point blank while laying wounded and defenseless on a Parisian street after the attackers had left the Charlie Hebdo offices.
Charbonnier is said to have been the one they principally sought and witnesses said they went from room to room asking ‘Where is Charb’? Along the way they spared some – one woman said an attacker told her they did not kill women – while shooting others. Most or all of the dead are men.
Support shown: “Je Suis Charlie”
The attacks have been condemned by religious leaders, including Muslims, and political leaders around the world, including the leaders of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Italy, Russia, the U.K. and the United States. Thousands of French have taken to the streets of many of their cities to rally for the fight against terrorism and show support for Charlie Hebdo and the victims.
Many carried signs that said ‘Je Suis Charlie’ (I am Charlie).
