Charlie Hebdo Attack Overview (01:43)

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In November 2015, attacks killed 129 in Paris. France had declared war on terrorism 10 months earlier; this film covers the three day manhunt for the killers.

Wednesday, January 7 (03:39)

Charlie Hebdo kept a low profile since publishing cartoons of Muhammad, nine years earlier. Neighboring TV production company employees Martin Boudot and Mathilde Queru describe the gunmen entering the building in search of the Hebdo office. They barricaded the door and called the police.

Terrorists Gain Access to Charlie Hebdo (02:03)

Surviving journalist Laurent Leger says Hebdo staff did not hear the gunmen enter the building. A subscriptions manager says they intercepted her and Coco on the stairs and forced Coco to enter the office door code. Security cameras recorded them entering reception.

Charlie Hebdo Executions (04:05)

Leger recalls the gunmen entering the meeting room and shooting his colleagues; he hid. Premières Linges staff escaped onto the roof. View footage of the gunshots, the gunmen leaving the building, and the killing of policeman Ahmed Merabet.

Charlie Hebdo Aftermath (02:40)

Leger recalls silence after the attacks. Emergency doctor Jean-Pierre Tourtier was nearby and called for trauma units. Premières Linge staff feared a bomb and police were delayed by Merabet's death.

Terrorism Crime Scene (03:56)

Boudot regrets not calling Charlie Hebdo before calling the police; he recalls seeing bodies in the office. View footage of emergency response teams tending to victims. Investigator Bernard Petit describes a war zone; view the names of the deceased.

Identifying Suspects (02:20)

After leaving Charlie Hebdo, the gunmen switched cars and told the driver they were Al-Qaeda from Yemen. Forensic teams found Saïd Kouachi's ID in the abandoned car; police knew he and his brother Cherif had links to militant Islamists.

Je Suis Charlie (03:39)

Protesters took to the streets in support of Charlie Hebdo victims. Amedy Coulibaly prepared to attack Paris in the name of the Islamic State. Laurent, a municipal worker, describes fighting him after he shot unarmed policewoman Clarissa Jean-Philippe.

Second Attack Mystery (02:59)

Investigators wondered why Coulibaly killed Jean-Philippe, and whether he was connected to the Kouachi brothers. German tourist Horst-Dieter Claussen witnessed them robbing a gas station outside Paris. Police were pursuing three terrorists at large.

Launching a Manhunt (02:04)

French police combed the countryside outside Paris for the Kouachi brothers. Detectives matched DNA from a gun to Coulibaly; he had met the Kouachis in prison. Coulibaly had a safe house in Gentilly and took his partner to Madrid to fly to Syria.

Friday, January 9 (03:26)

After sleeping in the woods, the Kouachi brothers hijacked a car and stopped at a print shop in Danmartin. Owner Michel Catalano told his employee to hide; the Koachis had him call the police. The men exchanged gunfire with police, beginning a standoff.

Siege at Danmartin (02:50)

Catalano bandaged the wounded Kouachi brother and they released him—his employee Lilian was hiding inside. Cherif told the media they represented Al-Qaeda in Yemen, only killed to defend the Prophet, and would not kill civilians or women.

Kosher Market Siege (03:54)

Coulibaly's video states that he partially acted with the Kouachi brothers. He entered a Jewish grocer and shot an employee and a customer. He told the cashier he was a martyr for Allah, and shot a third man who entered by mistake.

Failed Hyper Cacher Hero (02:48)

Coulibali rounded up hostages; some remained in the basement. Employee Lassana Bathily fled through the fire exit. Another hostage tried to kill Coulibaly but the rifle jammed; Coulibaly shot him.

Establishing Contact (03:29)

Police cleared the area around the kosher market; Bathily explained the layout. Coulibaly barred the fire exit and told journalists he had coordinated with the Kouachi brothers. He instructed hostages to eat and revealed he'd been in prison for terrorism.

Coordinated Hostage Situations (02:15)

Some hostages called family and informed police of dynamite. Police realized Coulibaly would not surrender and prepared to attack. Coulibaly threatened to kill hostages if they attacked the Kouachi brothers.

Neutralization Plan (03:06)

Police would try to capture the Kouachi brothers alive. Seven hours into the siege, the terrorists came out of the print shop firing and were shot. Police prepared to assault the kosher grocery to save hostages.

Assault on the Hyper Cacher (05:29)

Police teams planned to enter through the fire exit and main door. Coulibaly threatened to kill the hostages if they entered. View footage of police shooting into the store and hostages being freed.

Homegrown Terrorist Threat (01:50)

French authorities monitor 2,000 suspects at a time. Coulibaly took out a loan to buy weapons, and acted in retaliation for Muslims attacked abroad. Tourtier says French police, paramedics, firefighters, and citizens will risk their lives for freedom.

Credits: Three Days of Terror: The Charlie Hebdo Attacks (00:42)

Credits: Three Days of Terror: The Charlie Hebdo Attacks