Watch the moment police launch assault on Charlie Hebdo suspects

Video: At around 4pm on Friday, police launched an assault on the printworks where the Charlie Hebdo suspects were holed up

A French police officer stands on the roof of a building where two brothers suspected of slaughtering 12 people in an Islamist attack on French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo held one person hostage as police cornered the gunmen, in Dammartin-en-Goele

Video from Dammartin-en-Goële shows gunfire and explosions at the printing business where the two suspects wanted in connection with Wednesday’s attack on Charlie Hebdo were holded up and holding one person hostage.

The hunt for the killers of 12 people at the offices of Charlie Hebdo focused on Dammartin-en-Goële, a small town a few miles north-east of the airport. They were named on Thursday as the brothers Chérif and Said Kouachi.

The suspects entered the printing business around 9am on Friday and residents were asked to stay indoors, stay away from windows and keep children at home. Reports emerged that the siege involved a hostage and French anti-terrorist forces surrounded the complex.

Around 4pm, gunshots were heard at the scene of the siege and smoke could be seen above the building. Official sources said police had launched an assault on the printworks.

AFP reported soon after that both the Kouachi brothers were dead, while the person held hostage by them has been freed. The suspects allegedly came out of the printworks building firing at security forces.