Police launched an assault Friday on a factory in northern France where the suspects in the Paris shooting were believed to be holding a hostage.
The suspects in the Charlie Hebdo massacre, brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi, were killed on Friday, according to several several reports including the Associated Press, Dow Jones and AFP.
It is reported they wanted to be martyrs.
The dictionary lists ‘martyr’ as a person who is killed because of their religious or other beliefs. It does not appear that one earns the honorific of martyr by first murdering unarmed others.
There is no confirmation about the fates of their alleged hostages.
The second hostage situation at the Kosher Deli — it is said, possibly 4 hostages are dead, along with the murderer.
The French police appeared to have made a simultaneous attack on both locations within a minute of one another, at the factory and the deli.
All Jewish stores in the area have been ordered closed by the police on this time just before Sabbath. Rabbis have warned their congregations to stay home and be safe tonight.
graphic via shutterstock.com