The deputy mayor of Paris announced the gunmen responsible for the Charlie Hebdo terror attack Wednesday in Paris have been identified by French authorities.
Deputy Mayor Patrick Klugman appeared on CNN’s “The Lead” with Jake Tapper, revealing the three gunmen consisted of two brothers and a third person. Their ages are 34, 32 and 18. Klugman said they “may have been arrested,” but he would not confirm. French media reported that the two brothers were born in Paris.
The terror attack killed at least 12 people at the offices of the French satirical newspaper on Wednesday morning. Another 11 people were injured, four of them seriously.
Among the dead are acclaimed French cartoonist Jean Cabut, editorial director Stéphane Charbonnier, and two police officers. Cartoonists Georges Wolinski and Bernard Verlag were also discovered among the dead. The newspaper housed some of France’s most acclaimed cartoonists.
French police said at least two armed gunmen walked into the offices of the paper as an editorial meeting was being held and opened fire with Kalashnikov AK-47s, shooting down journalists.
They were apparently angry over the paper’s spoof pieces on the prophet Muhammad. Shocking images from the scene showed the hooded gunmen wielding their machine guns at a police car on the streets of Paris. The gunmen eventually fled in a black getaway car, touching off a manhunt across Paris. French President Francois Hollande vowed to find those responsible.
“Everything will be done to arrest (the attackers),” Hollande said in a speech Wednesday. “We also have to protect all public places. Security forces will be deployed everywhere there can be the beginning” of a threat.
Hollande also announced that Thursday will be a national day of mourning for those killed and injured in the attack and said flags will be at half-staff for three days.
Shocked residents also held rallies across France and other parts of Europe to show solidarity with Charlie Hebdo and the victims of the attack.
Meanwhile in Washington, President Barack Obama issued a statement condemning the attack. “Time and again, the French people have stood up for the universal values that generations of our people have defended,” he said. “France, and the great city of Paris where this outrageous attack took place, offer the world a timeless example that will endure well beyond the hateful vision of these killers. We are in touch with French officials, and I have directed my administration to provide any assistance needed to help bring these terrorists to justice.”
Anita Bennett contributed to this report.