Gunmen 'posed as policemen' to take control of printing warehouse

One of the Paris gunmen posed as a police officer as the brothers stormed a printing warehouse, according to a salesman who met them at the door.

The man, giving his name only as Didier, said he was visiting the warehouse for a business appointment, and shook the hand of one of the gunmen after arriving at the building in Dammartin-en-Goele, about half-an-hour north of Paris, about 8.30am on Friday morning.

He said one of the gunmen claimed to be a police officer and ordered him to leave, but not before saying he did not kill civilians.

"He was dressed in black and was heavily armed with at least one rifle," Didier told the France Info radio station.

He said a work colleague came out to meet him accompanied by someone he took to be a policeman dressed in black combat gear and wearing a bullet-proof vest.

"I thought it was all very strange, so I decided to call the police," he said.

"I suppose it was the terrorists [but at the time] I did not know if it was the hostages or burglary, but I know something wasn't right. I didn't hear any gun shots.

"I think I will go and see my colleagues and join the lottery because I was very lucky this morning."