Charlie Hebdo Scene Paris - H 2015
AP ImagesA man who hid from the Charlie Hebdo gunmen for eight hours is suing French TV networks and radio stations, saying they put his life in danger during the Paris attacks by mentioning him.
The Guardian cited the Paris prosecutors’ office as saying it has opened an investigation into Lilian Lepere‘s claims that the coverage during the January hunt for attackers Cherif Kouachi and Said Kouachi, and their partner, posed a risk to him while he hid from them.
Lepere was hiding in a cupboard under a sink at a printing plant north of Paris without the knowledge of the two gunmen there, the paper said. But at least three TV and radio stations, TF1, France 2 and radio station RMC, mentioned his possible presence in their live coverage, the Guardian explained.
He ended up unharmed, but 17 people were killed in the attacks.
The Guardian report said that a lawmaker told RMC that an employee of the plant was still hiding inside. Lepere’s sister later confirmed in an interview with public TV network France 2 that her brother was likely still hiding inside, and TF1 also reported the news.
“Delivering information without careful consideration may lead to endanger other’s lives,” the paper quoted Lepere’s lawyer as saying. “Journalists must think of it.”
