Friends and classmates of a suspect in the deadly attack on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris say he has an alibi. The 18-year-old, who turned himself in to police on Wednesday, was reportedly in school at the time and consequently couldn't have taken part in the shooting.  On Wednesday, police identified three suspects in the attack: two brothers — Said Kouachi, 32, Cherif Kouachi, 34, — and 18-year-old Mourad Hamyd. The attack claimed the lives of 12 people.  By Wednesday evening, several people who identified themselves as Hamyd's classmates went on Twitter, saying they saw Hamyd in class at the time of the shooting. It's unclear what role, if any, Hamyd is suspected to have played in the attack as police haven't released any information beyond his name.  Using the hashtag #MouradHamydInnocent, friends protested his innocence.  The tweet below roughly translates as, "He is in my high school. I saw that smile this morning as usual."  Il est dans mon lycée je l'ai vu ce matin grave souriant comme d'hab , il ferait jamais sa lui .Soutenez le svp #MouradHamydInnocent c ouf  — #MouradHamydInnocent (@_Wissem_Sankha) January 7, 2015  Despite some early reports that three people were involved in the attack, just two shooters are seen in the pictures and videos taken in the immediate aftermath of the attack.  A police officer pleads for mercy on the pavement before being shot in the head by masked gunmen during an attack on the headquarters of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, France on Jan. 7.  Image: Sipa via AP Images/Associated Press  Hamyd's name initially began circulating on social media Wednesday along with the names of the Kouachi brothers, who were still on the loose by Thursday afternoon.  French Interior Minister Cazeneuve said Said Kouachi had been "formally identified" in a picture of the attack on the Charlie Hebdo headquarters.  According to France 24, Hamyd's name was included in the first search warrant issued early on Wednesday evening. He turned himself into to police "after seeing his name circulated on social networks," a source told France 24. Le Monde reported that Hamyd turned himself over to police in the city of Charleville-Mezieres.  Mashable contacted the Charleville-Mezieres police who said they weren't able to release information.  Hamyd attended the Lycee Monge in Charleville-Mezières, according to French press. Several students, claiming to be from the same high school, were the driving force behind the #MouradHamydInnocent hashtag.  Malachy Browne, a journalist with reported.ly, spoke with one of the students, who insisted that Hamyd couldn't have taken part in the shooting.  Last pm I spoke with friend of Mourad Hamyd's, @hijodelmundoo, who was emphatic on his innocence. Mourad is w/ police, appears to have alibi  — Malachy Browne (@malachybrowne) January 8, 2015  French media outlets quoted other friends who also said Hamyd was in school at the time of the attack.  .@AnyceDz l'ami de #HamydMourad sur @itele "il n'a rien à voir avec #CharlieHebdo .Il était en cours à ce moment là" pic.twitter.com/nUxedTHYRB  — Guillaume Auda (@GuillaumeAuda) January 8, 2015  On Thursday, Interior Minister Cazenueve announced that nine people had been taken into custody as the investigation into the shooting continues. It is unclear if Hamyd is among them or if he is still being held by authorities.  Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
A day after three suspects were being sought in the brutal attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo, the involvement of one of the men has come into question.