Two black-hooded men with Kalashnikov rifles entered the offices of satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo today, singling out cartoonists and writers seen to have insulted Mohammed in the past and killing them. 12 people, including two police, were killed in the attack.
The attackers managed to not only carry out this high-profile attack in broad daylight, but they were able to carjack someone and escape, leading to a day-long manhunt which has fueled a flurry of conflicting reports.
The three suspects were identified as Said Kouachi and Cherif Kouachi, two brothers born in France from Algerian parents, and Hamyd Mourad, an apparent high school student of an as-yet-unclear nationality.
The most recent reports are that Mourad had turned himself in to police, while reports that two were caught and the other killed have been retracted, and it is presently unclear what happened to the Kouachi brothers.Additional reports have suggested Mourad may have an alibi, and may not have been involved after all.
The Kouachi brothers remain at large, and reportedly robbed a gas station for fuel and food. Police have set up checkpoints but don’t seem to be making much progress tracking them down.
Video and eye-witness accounts led police to conclude the brothers, who were the gunmen, had extensive combat experience, apparently gained in Syria. The suspects were identified by ID cards reportedly left in the vehicle.
