France Prime Minister on Monday said that North African kidnappers killed two young French hostages in cold blood in Niger, adding that the investigation will “go deeper”.

France Prime Minister on Monday said that North African kidnappers killed two young French hostages in cold blood during a rescue operation in the deserts of Niger, adding that the investigation will “go deeper”.

"The hostage-takers, seeing they were pursued, killed the hostages in cold blood, according to the first elements in my possession," France's Prime Minister Francois Fillon told reporters at his office in Paris.
"The investigation will of course go deeper, and all the results will be given to the families of the victims. Terrorism has shattered their lives, but it will not reduce our determination to battle this scourge."

Antoine De Leocour and Vincent Delory, both aged 25, died on Saturday in northern Niger, one day after they were snatched from a restaurant by gunmen.

Also on Monday, Defense Minister Alain Juppe, flew to Niger for talks with officials there.
Due in Niamey on Monday afternoon, Juppe has said that given the circumstances there was "little doubt" about the involvement of “Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb” (AQIM) and defended the bid to rescue them.