The four victims of the terror attack on a kosher supermarket in eastern Paris on Friday were named Saturday by CRIF, an umbrella group of French Jewish communities.

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The victims, all Jews, were identified as Yoav Hattab, 21, the son of the Chief Rabbi of Tunis, Philippe Braham, in his 40s, Yohan Cohen, 22 and Francois-Michel Saada, in his 60s. One of them - reportedly Yohan Cohen - tried to snatch one of the attackers weapons away and was shot in the head.

Yoav Hattab, 21, and Yohan Cohen, 22.

“These French citizens were struck down in a cold-blooded manner and mercilessly because they were Jews,” read the CRIF statement.

The possibility of bringing the four victims to Israel for a state funeral is being examined.

Victim of kosher supermarket attack in ParisYohan Cohen.

Customer tried to snatch terrorist's weapon

This week's drama, which played out on live TV and social media, began with the brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi coldly and methodically massacring 12 people Wednesday at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

They fled the scene and eluded police for two days, robbing a gas station and stealing a car. Cherif Kouachi was wounded in the throat by police at one point, the Paris prosecutor said, but the brothers got away. They went on to take a hostage at a printing house in Dammartin-en-Goele near Charles de Gaulle Airport on Friday, prompting a daylong standoff with police.

On Thursday, Amedy Coulibaly shot a policewoman to death south of Paris. He, too, fled. Police later determined he was linked to the Kouachi brothers.

Then on Friday he attacked the Hyper Cacher market at Porte de Vincennes in eastern Paris, killing four hostages and threatening more violence unless the police let the Kouachis go.

Marie, a Jewish customer who had been one of the hostages inside the Kosher supermarket, described the first moments of the attack when Amedy Coulibaly arrived at the supermarket.

"He came in wearing a bullet-proof vest. He had two Kalashnikov rifles, a gun and a knife. He shot two people at the entrance. One of the customers tried to take one of his weapons, but was unable to fire. (Coulibaly) shot him in the head immediately," said Marie. The brave customer is believed to be Yohan Cohen.

Marie, who was interviewed by the BFMTV TV channel, described a horrifying scene inside the supermarket. She said one male victim lay on the ground and died during the wait for police to arrive at the scene.

According to Marie, one of the supermarket workers was able to hide and direct police forces on how to enter the site while another individual was able to flee to an elevator, carrying the keys to the supermarket with him, which he took to the top floor of the market where he left the building using an emergency exit. He was then able to give the keys to police.

Despite the scarring scenes she witnessed, Marie says she will not let the attack frighten her. "I have no intention of staying locked up at home and or being scared," said Marie after the attack.

It all ended at dusk Friday with near-simultaneous raids at the printing plant and the kosher market in eastern Paris.

French security forces storm the market

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As scores of black-clad security forces surrounded both sites, booming explosions, heavy gunfire and dense smoke heralded the news that the twin sieges had ended.

The three gunmen were dead - but the authorities also discovered four dead hostages at the market. Sixteen hostages were freed, one from the printing plant and 15 from the store.

Coulibaly's wife, Hayat Boumeddiene, is still on the loose and has been announced as France's number one most wanted individual and is considered armed and dangerous.





