At least 12 people were killed in a shooting on Wednesday at French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. The magazine previously published cartoons of the Muslim prophet Muhammad, forcing France to temporarily close its embassies and schools in more than 20 countries. U.S. counterterrorism officials told NBC News that one of the suspects in the attack had been killed and that two others were currently in custody. Two police officers were among those killed. The number of injured is thought to be around 20, of which four are in critical condition. The 12 dead included editor and cartoonist Charb and cartoonist Cabu. Earlier on Wednesday, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve told the media that security forces were hunting for three gunmen.
Officials identified them as Frenchmen Said Kouachi and Cherif Kouachi, as well as Hamyd Mourad, (whose nationality was unknown) as suspects in the shooting. Cherif Kouachi served 18 months in prison for a previous terrorism conviction. The men are thought to be linked to a Yemeni terrorist network. France’s terror alert has been raised to the highest level after the shooting, President Francois Hollande stated. He also confirmed that several other terrorist attacks had been foiled and dealt with. He added that flags in the country would fly at half mast on Wednesday.
