Two hostage sieges came to a bloody end today after police stormed two sites in France, killing the Charlie Hebdo gunmen and their accomplice.
At the first stand-off, Al Qaeda brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi were shot dead by special forces as they tried to fight their way out of a print works.
Their hostage, named as Michel Catalano, is believed to have been rescued alive.
Moments later, explosions were heard at a second hostage siege in Paris where an accomplice was threatening to kill at least six captives if police stormed the Kouachis’ hideout.
At least one hostage is believed to have survived that stand-off, at a kosher supermarket, in what appears to have been a co-ordinated strike by police.
However, there are reports four captives had been killed. The gunmen, Amedy Coulibay, was reportedly shot dead by police.
Gunfire and explosions had been heard at the first hostage siege after police had surrounded the gunmen at an industrial estate 25 miles from Paris.
The siege reached a bloody climax when the brothers reportedly ‘came out firing’ after an nine-hour stand-off.
They had earlier told police negotiators: ‘We are ready to die as martyrs’.
At around 4.30pm, people living nearby reported hearing three or four load explosions followed by several gunshots.
More explosions followed and smoke could be seen rising from the building. Others reported seeing ambulances race to the scene.
A short time later three French special forces officers could be seen on the roof of the building.
Then, at around 5.30 pm, three large helicopters arrived at the scene and landed on the roof. The hostage was named as Michel Catalano.
His family were gathered at their detached home in the nearby village of Othis as the siege came to a dramatic end in Dammartin-en-Goele.
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