U.S. intelligence agencies developed intelligence suggesting a high probability he slipped across to Yemen during the trip to Oman, and informed their French counterparts, according to Pelletier’s French sources.
The French responded by placing Said Kouachi under surveillance in November 2011 by issuing a “Fiche de Surveillance” — a survillance notice, multiple French officials told Pelletier. The surveillance was conducted by both DGSI — France’s domestic security service — and later by the judicial police. Wiretaps were authorized for his cell phones and that of his brother Cherif.
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CNN’s Barbara Starr, Tim Lister and Nic Robertson contributed to this report.
