Paris attacks: four charged with links to terror plot | World news | The GuardianParis attacks: four charged with links to terror plot | World news | The Guardian










Close






Skip to main content

 









sign in








subscribe









search




jobs






more


from the guardian:


jobs


change edition:



switch to the UK edition


switch to the AU edition







US edition




switch to the UK edition




switch to the Australia edition













The Guardian


Winner of the Pulitzer prize











home


›
world




UK


europe


americas


asia


middle east


africa


australia










home




US




world
selected




opinion




sports




soccer




tech




arts




lifestyle




fashion




business




money




travel




environment







browse all sections
close







 











Paris



Paris attacks: four charged with links to terror plot









The men are suspected of providing logistical support to Amedy Coulibaly, who killed four hostages in supermarket siege














Tributes are paid to the victims of the supermarket siege in Paris. Photograph: Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images



Associated Press in Paris


Wednesday 21 January 2015 05.30 EST







Share on Facebook







Share on Twitter







Share via Email







Share on LinkedIn







Share on Google+







Share on WhatsApp
















Four men with ties to one of the gunmen responsible for three days of terror in the Paris region are the first to be charged in connection with the attacks that left 20 people dead, including three attackers, the Paris prosecutor has said.
Outlining a web of phone calls, shared keys and prison friendships, François Molins said on Wednesday the suspects, all in their 20s, were handed preliminary charges overnight. They will be jailed until a further investigation. He did not reveal the suspects’ full identities, naming them only as Willy P, Christophe R, Tonino G and Mickael A.
Three of the men are suspected of buying weapons and one is thought to have kept them at his house for Amedy Coulibaly, who shot dead a policewoman on 8 January on the outskirts of Paris and then a day later killed four hostages at a kosher supermarket before being killed in a police raid.
Three of the four men charged had criminal records and at least one met Coulibaly in prison, Molins said.
Coulibaly had met Cherif Kouachi, one of the two brothers who killed 12 people at the Paris headquarters of Charlie Hebdo magazine, in prison.
The lawyer for one of those charged said his client was unaware of any terrorist plot and had been afraid of Coulibaly, who he said had “terrorised” his client and intimidated him into helping.
Mickael A’s DNA was found on a revolver in Coulibaly’s apartment and on a glove the gunman wore in the supermarket. Molins also said Mickael A had 18 phone contacts with Coulibaly on 6 January.
The prosecutor said French authorities were working with other countries to search for other possible accomplices. They are especially trying to uncover who was responsible for the posthumous video of Coulibaly, which was edited and released days after he and brothers Saïd and Chérif Kouachi died in standoffs with police.
In the video, Coulibaly pledges allegiance to Islamic State and explains how the attacks were coordinated by the three men.



Topics



Paris




Charlie Hebdo attack




France








Share on Facebook







Share on Twitter







Share via Email







Share on LinkedIn







Share on Google+







Share on WhatsApp



















 






related content












popular












 








The Guardian






back to top














home




US




world
selected




opinion




sports




soccer




tech




arts




lifestyle




fashion




business




money




travel




environment







all sections
close







home




US




world
selected




UK




europe




americas




asia




middle east




africa




australia






opinion




sports




soccer




MLS




NFL




MLB




NBA




NHL






soccer




live scores




tables




competitions




results




fixtures




clubs






tech




games






arts




movies




tv & radio




music




books




art & design




stage




classical






lifestyle




food




health




love & sex




family




women




home & garden






fashion




business




markets




companies






money




travel




USA




europe




UK






environment




development




cities






science




media




crosswords




video











World




›
Paris








jobs

subscribe
all topics
all contributors

info and resources

contact us

feedback

complaints & corrections
terms & conditions
privacy policy
cookie policy
securedrop


© 2015 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.






















 
