Hiding under a sink for eight and a half hours – this is how Lilian Lepère, a 26-year-old graphic designer at the press in Dammartin-en-Goële, some 40 kilometers north of Paris, may have saved his life by hiding from the Kouachi brothers.
Lepère probably owes his life to Michel Catalano, his boss, who was taken hostage by the Kouachis and told Lilian to hide.
Speaking on France 2, Lilian said he needed courage to even look at his cellular phone, which was on silent as downstairs the terrorists were hoping to negotiate their release with Catalano’s life.
By sending police forces SMS though, Lepère supplied useful intelligence on the movements on the Kouachis. He told the TV station he only dared come out from hiding after he heard an exchange of fire downstairs, and realized the fight was over.
Lilian Lepère, who survived being taken hostage by the Kouachi brothers by hiding under a sink at a printing press outside Paris, speaking on France 2 about his ordeal, on January 13, 2015. (photo credit: Screen capture)
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From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
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