The surveillance of his brother Cherif stopped earlier -- at the end of 2013 . The Kouachi brothers were monitored by French agencies because of their connections , he said . But that faded months ago despite a U.S. tip - off that one brother had connections with al Qaeda in Yemen .
The Kouachi brothers were monitored by French agencies because of their connections , he said . But that faded months ago despite a U.S. tip - off that one brother had connections with al Qaeda in Yemen .