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French Security Forces Surround Town 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 — French security forces have surrounded a town northeast of Paris where two suspects in Wednesday’s terrorist attack at the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo appear to be barricaded at a printing business in an industrial area with at least one hostage, the authorities said. PARIS — Hundreds of French security forces have converged on an industrial park in a town northeast of Paris where two suspects in Wednesday’s terrorist attack in central Paris appear to be barricaded with at least one hostage at a printing business, the authorities said. A police official said the suspects told negotiators they intended to “die as martyrs.”
Earlier, the police said the suspects had stolen a car and exchanged automatic-weapons fire with the police. Earlier, the police said the suspects had stolen a car and exchanged automatic-weapons fire with the police as they were pursued down a highway.
Mohamed Douhane, a senior police officer following the negotiations, said that the police were in contact with the two suspects and that they hoped to resolve the standoff peacefully.
“We have established communication with the Kouachi brothers,” he said, referring to Saïd and Chérif Kouachi, the main suspects in the shootings at the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo on Wednesday. “They said they wanted to die as martyrs. They are behaving like two determined terrorists who are certainly physically exhausted, but who want to escape with one last big show of force and heroic resistance. They feel trapped and know that their last hours have come.”
He added that at least one hostage had been taken.
The police said that the brothers had been located at the printing warehouse by helicopters equipped with heat sensors. Shortly after they were detected, residents saw security forces drop down on ropes from helicopters hovering over the area.
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. Shortly after noon, the town announced that students at schools nearest the area of the operations were evacuated by the police and taken to another school to be picked up by their parents.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. Shortly after noon, the town announced that students at schools nearest the area of the operations were evacuated by the police and taken to another school to be picked up by their parents.
Audrey Taupenas, a spokeswoman for Dammartin-en-Goële, told The Associated Press that officials established phone contact with the suspects to negotiate the safe evacuation of the school nearest the printing plant. She said the suspects had agreed.
Yves Albarello, a lawmaker who said he was inside the command post, said the two brothers had told i-Tele on Friday that they “want to die as martyrs.”
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.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.“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.”
President François Hollande, after meeting with local officials at the Interior Ministry, said that “France is going through a trying time,” calling this week’s attack “the worst of the past 50 years.”President François Hollande, after meeting with local officials at the Interior Ministry, said that “France is going through a trying time,” calling this week’s attack “the worst of the past 50 years.”
Mr. Hollande, looking tense but trying to sound resolute as the effort to capture the suspects was unfolding, said, “France is also shocked, considering that the perpetrators of these acts have not yet been arrested, and I am speaking before you as operations are ongoing.”Mr. Hollande, looking tense but trying to sound resolute as the effort to capture the suspects was unfolding, said, “France is also shocked, considering that the perpetrators of these acts have not yet been arrested, and I am speaking before you as operations are ongoing.”
He added, “We have known for several months that there were attempts” at additional terrorist attacks, several of which he said had been thwarted.He added, “We have known for several months that there were attempts” at additional terrorist attacks, several of which he said had been thwarted.
Mr. Hollande said there would be a meeting of European interior ministers in Paris on Sunday to discuss new steps to interrupt terrorist networks, with cooperation from other countries, including the United States.Mr. Hollande said there would be a meeting of European interior ministers in Paris on Sunday to discuss new steps to interrupt terrorist networks, with cooperation from other countries, including the United States.
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. Some flights were being delayed briefly.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 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.
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. 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, 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.