Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Charlie Hebdo attacks: Widow of Said Kouachi tells of ‘enormous bitterness’ at being abandoned by Paris killer

The 34-year-old and his brother Chérif, 32, murdered 12 people in an attack on the offices of the satirical magazine before being killed two days later as police stormed their hideout

John Lichfield
Paris
Wednesday 06 January 2016 20:11 GMT
Comments
Said Kouachi was killed in a shootout with police
Said Kouachi was killed in a shootout with police (Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The widow of the one of the Charlie Hebdo attackers has revealed that nothing in their “very close” marriage suggested that he was about to commit an act of terrorism.

In a message relayed by her lawyer, Soumya Kouachi, 30, the widow of Said, the elder of the two Kouachi brothers, said she felt “enormous bitterness” towards her late husband. “He abandoned me and our [three-year-old] child and his crime was quite simply actrocious,” she added.

Said Kouachi, 34, and his brother Chérif, 32, murdered 12 people in an attack on the Paris offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo a year ago today. They were killed two days later as police stormed their hideout in a print works at Dammartin-en-Goële, north of the capital.

Ms Kouachi, who not spoken publicly about the atrocity before – was arrested for questioning after the attacks but released without charge.

In comments passed to French media by her lawyer, Antoine Flasaquier, she said she had tried to recall signs that her husband intended to commit an act of terrorism but could remember none.

She added that he was “quiet” man who never preached radical Islam and never mentioned Isis’s jihadist campaign in Syria.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in