Friday went on to be a hectic day for Paris as two dramatic yet dangerous incidents unfolded, one in North East and the other in South East Paris, spreading fear among the masses. Operations that lasted for quite a long time concluded with the killing of the suspects.
Photo: AP
Dammartin-En-Goele
In the very first incident, the Kaoachi brothers, suspected of attacking the offices of satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, had entered an industrial area in Dammartin-En-Goele village, North East of Paris, holding one hostage. The elite police force was moved to the place and helicopters were sent to provide aerial assistance. The suspected attackers had holed into a print works office in the industrial area.
The police were said to be in negotiations with the two, but had to eventually carry out an operation to kill them. Several rounds of automatic gunfire were heard along with loud sound of explosions. Smoke could be seen erupting from the area as police launched an attack.
Hours later the two suspects were killed in a raid conducted by France’s anti-terrorist police squad. Albeit threats to kill the hold hostage were made by the two suspects, the police managed to save and free the hostage.
As officials conducted this operation, residents in the area were asked to stay indoors and students in three schools were kept inside for security reasons. Journalists, too, were not granted permission to enter the zone where the battle between the two suspects and the police went on for quite a long time.
Image Source: ABC News
Porte de Vincennes
As a large police force was dealing with the two suspects at Dammartin-En-Goele, another incident occurred in Eastern Paris. The attackers, suspected to have killed the policewoman, stormed a Jewish supermarket, taking several hostages.
All of this happened inside the Hyper Casher supermarket, where the suspect took several women and children hostages. Police officials cordoned off the area immediately, evacuating shops around Hyper Casher. They then made slow movements inside the supermarket to catch hold of the suspect.
A number of police vans and officers were rushed to this place. Explosions and rounds of gunfire filled the atmosphere as police officials began making their move.
A tweet from the Associated Press said that the market gunmen threatened to kill hostages if police stormed terrorist brothers. Amedy Coulibaly, the hostage-taker is said to be a member of the Islamic group.
Soon the police was able to conclude the operation in Porte de Vincennes after the hostage-taker was shot dead and the hostages freed. Unfortunately, four hostages were killed in this supermarket siege.
Photo: AP
According to The Local, French broadcaster BFMTV has revealed it spoke to one of the Kouachi brothers this morning, as well as the Kosher store gunman this afternoon, thereby getting the information that the assailants were working together, citing Coulibaly saying; “them on Charlie, me on the police”, meaning the Kouachi brothers would target the magazine and he would target the police.
The BFM TV reporters were trying to reach out to the hostage held by the two brothers when one of them picked up the call. The gunman (who received the call) is believed to have told the reporters that he was sent and financed by Al Qaeda.
Amedy Coulibaly probably had an accomplice. Reports suggest that the police have found an unidentified body. . A woman who was also a part of shooting the policewoman was not there at the supermarket.
Photo: AP
Both the incidents led to traffic disruptions in Paris. Traffic on the line 1 metro and tramway 3, both leading to Porte de Vincennes, was cancelled for security purposes. And as police officials dealt with the previous incident, a few flights too were cancelled.
Another vigil was held at Place de la Republique in Paris on Friday and world leaders condemned the terror attacks on Paris.
Tags: Dammartin-En-Goele France Paris Paris attack Porte de Vincennes
