He was charged with criminal association related to a terrorist cell in 2005. He had been part of an Islamist cell that enlisted French nationals from a mosque in eastern Paris to go to Iraq to fight Americans in Iraq. He was arrested before leaving for Iraq to join militants.

Earlier on Thursday, a policewoman succumbed to her injuries after a gunman shot at her and a civil employee before fleeing in Montrouge, a neighbouring city in southern Paris.

It's not still clear whether the shoutout in southern Paris has links with Charile Hebdo shooting.

France's security alert remains at the highest level on fears of eventual attacks with security measures tightened at transport hubs, religious sites, media offices and department stores.

Wednesday's shooting, the country's worst attack since the second World War, posed tests to the government's security and raised fears of anti-Islam feelings in France where 5 million Muslims are living, the largest community in Europe.

Local media reported an overnight explosion hit a restaurant next to a mosque in the central town of Villefrance-sur-Saone. Another attack against a Muslim place of worship was also reported in Mans in western France.