Chérif Kouachi

Chérif and Saïd Kouachi attack the editorial offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris. Twelve people are killed in total during the attack and immediate escape, and several others are injured.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Shared responsibility

During the escape following the Charlie Hebdo attack, police officer Ahmed Merabet is shot dead on Boulevard Richard-Lenoir. The incident is filmed and forms part of the overall attribution of the attack to the Kouachi brothers.

Attribution

Shared responsibility

While barricaded in Dammartin-en-Goële, Chérif Kouachi tells BFM-TV that he was sent by Al-Qaeda in Yemen and explicitly links the operation to that organisation.

Attribution

Directly implicated

After a two-day manhunt, the Kouachi brothers barricade themselves in a printing works in Dammartin-en-Goële with a person they believe they are holding hostage, while another employee remains hidden. They are killed during the GIGN assault.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Shared responsibility

In a telephone interview conducted during the final siege, Chérif Kouachi claims to have been sent and funded by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen, citing Anwar al-Awlaki. US officials also report that he received training.

Attribution

Admitted by the person

Kouachi is placed under surveillance and then detained for approximately three months in the investigation into a plan to free Smaïn Aït Ali Belkacem, convicted for the 1995 attacks.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

While in prison, Chérif Kouachi meets Amedy Coulibaly and the activist Djamel Beghal, who becomes a figure of reference for their circle.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Living in Paris's 19th arrondissement, Chérif Kouachi moves from local petty crime to involvement with the radical movement led, among others, by Farid Benyettou.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated