France set to discuss new measures to thwart terror attacks

PanARMENIAN.Net - Key members of the French government will meet Saturday, Jan 10 morning to decide on new measures aimed at thwarting a repeat of the attacks in Paris that culminated in a massacre of 12 people at a satirical newspaper, and a supermarket bloodbath that left four hostages dead, the Associated Press reports.

World leaders have telephoned President Francois Hollande to express their personal sympathies. On Sunday, Germany's Angela Merkel, Britain's David Cameron as well as Italy's Matteo Renzi, and Spain's Mariano Rajoy have agreed to join in a unity rally in central Paris.

With explosions and gunfire, security forces Friday ended the three days of terror, killing the two al Qaeda-linked brothers who staged a murderous rampage at the Charlie Hebdo newspaper and an accomplice who seized hostages at a kosher supermarket to try to help the brothers escape.

Twenty people are dead, including the three gunmen. A fourth suspect, Hayat Boumeddiene — the common law wife of the market attacker — is still at large and believed to be armed.

Al Qaeda's branch in Yemen said it directed the attack against the publication Charlie Hebdo to avenge the honor of the Prophet Muhammad, a frequent target of the weekly's satire.

The brothers were not unknown to authorities: One had a terrorism-related conviction for ties to a network sending fighters to battle American forces in Iraq, and both were on the U.S. no-fly list, according to a U.S. official.

Hollande urged his nation to remain united and vigilant, and the city shut down a central Jewish neighborhood following fears of more violence.

"The threats facing France are not finished," he said. "We are a free people who don't cave to pressure."