The two gunmen responsible for murdering 12 employees of the French humor magazine Charlie Hebdo have been killed by police.
French police stormed a printing plant north of Paris earlier today where Cherif Kouachi, 32, and Said Kouachi, 34, were hiding out with one hostage.
The brothers were killed by police, and their hostage was freed unharmed.
An early report indicated that the Kouachis were killed while firing at police, but that detail has not been confirmed.
In the final minutes before the Hebdo suspects were killed, a man named Amedy Coulibaly took five people hostage at a kosher grocery store in Paris.
He told police that he would kill all five if they did not allow the Kouachi brothers to escape. Several hostages were wounded when the gunman opened fire, but all survived.
Police raided the market, killing Coulibaly and freeing the hostages just shortly after the Kouachi brothers were also killed.
Coulibaly is also believed to be responsible for the murder of a French policewoman on Thursday.
It’s been a terrifying few days for Parisians, many of whom took to the streets to express their support for the writers, editors, and cartoonists of Charlie Hebdo, as well as their condemnation for acts of violence justified by religious zealotry.
Residents of the City of Light can breathe somewhat easier now, but none will forget the harrowing events of this week.