Paris Attacks: Police Reportedly Kill Charlie Hebdo Gunmen In Dramatic Scene [Breaking]
Police have stormed the warehouse where the gunmen believed to be behind the Charlie Hebdo shooting on Wednesday were holed up, holding at least one hostage. The brothers were reportedly killed.
Dramatic images on British outlet Sky News show smoke and gunfire at the scene where police have two brothers, Cherif and Said Kouachi, surrounded. According to numerous news reports, there is at least one hostage being kept by the terrorists, who allegedly claimed they want to “die as martyrs.”
JUST IN: French police: Said Kouachi and Cherif Kouachi wanted in Paris terror attack: http://t.co/0WbSnKIrgE pic.twitter.com/wjmMg9LveB
— ABC News (@ABC) January 8, 2015
After a tense standoff that lasted most of the day, police decided to storm the warehouse where they think the Kouachi brothers were holed up. The gunfire and explosions began at around 5 p.m. local time, 11 a.m. ET.
Six quick explosions were also heard at the second hostage situation in Paris, according to reports in Sky News. The gunman holding at least six hostages at a Kosher grocery store in Paris had allegedly threatened to kill the captives, unless the brothers were allowed to go free.
A man — who is reportedly responsible for killing an unarmed police woman on Thursday — and a woman are believed to be inside the Kosher store. Reports indicate that both the Charlie Hebdo shooting on Wednesday and the Kosher store incident are connected.
French Police release mugshots of Kosher store hostage takers via MailOnline #Parisattacks http://t.co/RUE15EvHa5 pic.twitter.com/qqAybfIdWo
— Jacaranda Newsteam (@JacaNews) January 9, 2015
Sky News is reporting the developing situation at both scenes, as police seem to have coordinated their attack on the terrorists. Dozens of police vehicles are seen in the footage, and ambulances are rushing to the scene.
The latest unconfirmed reports indicate that the Kouachi brothers, who are accused of killing 12 people at the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine on Wednesday have been killed by police. Paris has been on edge since the attack at the publication on Wednesday.
Several hostages are reportedly freed from the Kosher grocery store, as well as the hostage held by the Charlie Hebdo gunmen. More news as information on the Paris attacks becomes available.
[UPDATE]
The AP is reporting that Cherif and Said Kouachi are dead and their hostage is free. The Kosher store attackers stormed the small market in support of the Charlie Hebdo shooters and demanded that they be released or else he would kill the hostages. Several hostages have been taken to hospitals by ambulance seen leaving the scene. The Paris attacks appear to be over at this time and all hostages are safe.
[UPDATE 2]
The AP also reports that the Charlie Hebdo attackers decided to go out in a blaze of glory, so to speak, and stormed out of the warehouse with guns drawn. Stay tuned for more on the Paris attacks.
[Image via Twitter]
