Authorities in France have extended the country maximum terror alert from Paris to the northern Picardie region following the deadly terrorist attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris.
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve.
"As soon as yesterday morning the "terrorist attack alert" level, the Vigipirate plan, was put in place at the request of the Prime Minister for the Ile de France region. It has been expanded to the Picardie region this afternoon. The workforce in charge of the safety of the French people has been strengthened."
34-year-old Said Kouachi and 32-year-old Cherif Kouachi are confirmed as the main suspects.
So far the two suspects are still at large.
Ninety people have been questioned in the investigation and nine people close to the two suspects have been detained for further questioning.
Police have focused their search around two towns in a region northeast of Paris, following reports the two robbed a gas station there.
Another suspect, 18-year-old Mourad Hamyd, surrendered at a police station after hearing his name linked to the attacks.
In the meantime, a female police officer was killed and a city employee seriously injured in another deadly shooting in a Paris suburb.
Authorities say there's no evidence of a link between that incident and the fatal Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack.
