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Shots Said to Be Fired in Search for Suspects in Charlie Hebdo Attack French Security Forces Surround Town in Search for Suspects in Charlie Hebdo Attack
(35 minutes later)
PARIS — The two suspects in Wednesday’s terrorist attack in Paris stole a car on Friday morning and exchanged gunfire with the police in a town northeast of Paris, according to police sources cited by the French news media. The suspects may have taken one or more hostages, the police said. PARIS — French security forces have surrounded a town northeast of Paris where the two suspects in Wednesday’s terrorist attack at the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo appear to be barricaded at a business in an office building with at least one hostage, the authorities said.
The French interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, confirmed that a major police operation was underway near Dammartin-en-Goële, a town not far from Charles de Gaulle Airport. Helicopters were reported to be circling the town. Earlier, the police said the suspects had stolen a car and exchanged automatic-weapons fire with the police.
“We have signs of the presence of the terrorists, whom we want to stop,” Mr. Cazeneuve told reporters in Paris after a police source said a hostage was being held in the town, Reuters reported. Residents of Dammartin-en-Goële, near Charles de Gaulle Airport northeast of Paris, were told to stay indoors. Students were locked down in their schools and were being kept away from windows and doors.
The French interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, confirmed that a major police operation was underway near Dammartin-en-Goële. Helicopters were circling the town as a cold drizzle fell.
“We have signs of the presence of the terrorists, whom we want to stop,” Mr. Cazeneuve told reporters in Paris.
“An operation is underway right now in Dammartin-en-Goële, which is mobilizing all services in the area,” the interior minister said, adding that further operations would be conducted in “the coming hours, coming minutes.”“An operation is underway right now in Dammartin-en-Goële, which is mobilizing all services in the area,” the interior minister said, adding that further operations would be conducted in “the coming hours, coming minutes.”
An announcement on the website of Dammartin’s town hall appealed to residents to stay at home. It said that children were secure at schools.
The area of the police activity is less than 10 miles from Charles de Gaulle Airport, the major international commercial airline hub serving Paris. Christophe Blondel Deblangy, a spokesman for the airport police, said aircraft had been advised to avoid “certain” runways as a precautionary measure.The area of the police activity is less than 10 miles from Charles de Gaulle Airport, the major international commercial airline hub serving Paris. Christophe Blondel Deblangy, a spokesman for the airport police, said aircraft had been advised to avoid “certain” runways as a precautionary measure.
Since Wednesday afternoon, he said, security officials have stationed two armored vehicles on the main access road to the airport and additional patrol cars in the perimeter.Since Wednesday afternoon, he said, security officials have stationed two armored vehicles on the main access road to the airport and additional patrol cars in the perimeter.
He said that no additional measures were being taken to block traffic or to search cars approaching the airport, and that flights continued to operate normally. He said that no additional measures were being taken to block traffic or to search cars approaching the airport. Some flights were being delayed briefly.
An Air France official said late Friday morning that its flights were operating normally, despite the closing of two northern runways. The airline has been advised, however, that approaching aircraft might be ordered to circle above the airport and to await instructions so as to avoid low-altitude flights by police helicopters in the area.An Air France official said late Friday morning that its flights were operating normally, despite the closing of two northern runways. The airline has been advised, however, that approaching aircraft might be ordered to circle above the airport and to await instructions so as to avoid low-altitude flights by police helicopters in the area.
The French radio station RTL said the police had clashed with two men who were in a vehicle that had been stolen by two individuals armed with automatic pistols. The two men fit the description of Saïd and Chérif Kouachi, the brothers suspected of being behind the attack on the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo that left 12 dead. The French radio station RTL said the police had clashed with two men who were in a vehicle that had been stolen by two individuals armed with automatic pistols. The two men fit the description of Saïd and Chérif Kouachi, the brothers suspected of being behind the attack on Charlie Hebdo that left 12 dead.
Le Monde reported that President François Hollande had interrupted a meeting of his security cabinet to follow the events as they unfolded.Le Monde reported that President François Hollande had interrupted a meeting of his security cabinet to follow the events as they unfolded.
One of the two brothers, Saïd Kouachi, 34, traveled to Yemen in 2011 and received terrorist training from Al Qaeda’s affiliate there before returning to France, according to American officials. His younger brother Chérif Kouachi, 32, who has worked as a pizza deliveryman and a fishmonger, had been detained and later arrested in 2008 for his involvement in a Paris terrorist cell that had been recruiting French citizens to fight in Iraq.One of the two brothers, Saïd Kouachi, 34, traveled to Yemen in 2011 and received terrorist training from Al Qaeda’s affiliate there before returning to France, according to American officials. His younger brother Chérif Kouachi, 32, who has worked as a pizza deliveryman and a fishmonger, had been detained and later arrested in 2008 for his involvement in a Paris terrorist cell that had been recruiting French citizens to fight in Iraq.