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Gunmen storm Paris satirical newspaper, killing at least 12 Gunmen storm Paris satirical newspaper, killing at least 12
(35 minutes later)
Masked gunmen opened fire Wednesday in the offices of a satirical newspaper in Paris that has faced previous threats for Muslim-related cartoons, killing at least 12 people before escaping in what France’s president described as a terrorist attack. Masked gunmen opened fire Wednesday in the offices of a satirical newspaper in Paris that had faced previous threats for Muslim-related cartoons, killing at least 12 people before escaping in what France’s president described as a terrorist attack.
French officials immediately raised the country’s terrorism alert to its highest level after the shooting at the newspaper Charlie Hebdo, where staff members and police were among the dead. French officials immediately raised the country’s terrorism alert to its highest level and launched a massive manhunt for the suspected assailants who stormed the newspaper Charlie Hebdo — where the Arabic cry of “Allahu Akbar” could be heard amid the gunfire, according to video posted by France’s state-run broadcaster.
Across Paris, security was stepped at media outlets, transportation hubs and other sites as a massive manhunt was underway for the suspected assailants. France’s top security official said three gunmen carried out the shootings — the country’s bloodiest terrorist attack in nearly two decades.
The weekly had drawn repeated threats for its caricatures of the Prophet Muhammed and other sketches and articles on Muslim figures. Across Paris, meanwhile, security was stepped at media outlets, transportation hubs and other key sites. The attack also is likely to raise calls for tougher crackdowns on suspected extremists.
French President Francois Hollande called the shooting a “terrorist attack without a doubt,” but authorities had no immediate comment on possible suspects or motives. French President Francois Hollande called the shootings a “terrorist attack without a doubt,” but authorities had no immediate comment on possible suspects or motives.
“Journalists and police officers have been cowardly assassinated . . . France is in a state of shock after this terrorist attack,” Hollande said after visiting the scene.“Journalists and police officers have been cowardly assassinated . . . France is in a state of shock after this terrorist attack,” Hollande said after visiting the scene.
The attack, the deadliest in France in decades, also is likely to raise calls for tougher crackdowns on suspected extremists in France. The weekly had drawn repeated threats for its caricatures of the Prophet Muhammed and other sketches and articles on Muslim figures.
Just hours before the attack, the magazine on its Twitter account posted a cartoon entitled “Still No Attacks in France” depicting Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi giving a New Year’s greeting.
“Just wait,” the drawing shows a fighter saying. “We have until the end of January to present our New Year’s wishes.”
The cover of the newspaper’s latest edition also notes the release of a book, “Submission,” a fictional account of France led by an Islamic party that imposes strict codes such as banning women from the workplace.
In his end-of-year address last week, Hollande raised concerns about “rising, worrying threats” of terrorism and growing intolerance in France, which is home to Europe’s largest Muslim population.
A police official, Luc Poignant, told the Associated Press that the attackers escaped in two vehicles.A police official, Luc Poignant, told the Associated Press that the attackers escaped in two vehicles.
Top government officials, meanwhile, planned an emergency meeting. Hollande said that several other terror attacks have been thwarted “in recent weeks,” but gave no further details.Top government officials, meanwhile, planned an emergency meeting. Hollande said that several other terror attacks have been thwarted “in recent weeks,” but gave no further details.
Paris prosecutor’s spokeswoman Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre, said 12 people were killed, the Associated Press reported. Paris prosecutor’s spokeswoman Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre, said 12 people were killed, the Associated Press reported. At least 20 others were injured, including four listed in critical condition, police said.
One witness, Benoit Bringer, told the iTele network that he saw multiple masked men armed with automatic weapons storm the newspaper’s office in central Paris. The attack occurred just hours after the newspaper’s latest edition hit newsstands. Other witnesses described at least two hooded gunmen entering the offices. Matthieu Lamarre, a spokesman for the Paris mayor’s office, said most of the dead were from the newspaper staff. At least one victim is a police officer, he said.
Video carried by France 24 showed people scrambling onto a rain-slicked roof during the attack. There was no immediate claim on responsibility, but messages of praised appeared on Web sites and other online forums linked to Islamist militants, said the Washington-based SITE monitoring group, which tracks extremist posts.
Just hours before the attack, the magazine on its Twitter account posted a cartoon depicting Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The cover of its latest edition notes the release of a book, “Submission,” a fictional account of France led by an Islamic party that imposes strict codes such as banning women from the workplace. The attack occurred just hours after the newspaper’s latest edition hit newsstands. Other witnesses described at least two hooded gunmen entering the offices.
In his end-of-year address last week, Hollande raised concerns about “rising, worrying threats” of terrorism and intolerance in France. Video carried by France 24 showed people scrambling onto a rain-slicked roof during the attack, the deadliest in France since 1995 when a string of bombings over several months blamed on an Algerian rebel group. At total of eight people were killed in the attacks.
In 2011, the newspaper’s offices were firebombed in apparent response to a cover cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad, which it described as a “guest editor.” The fire caused no injuries, but caused significant damage to the offices. In 2011, the Charlie Hebdo offices were firebombed in apparent response to a cover cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad, which it described as a “guest editor.” The fire caused no injuries, but caused significant damage to the offices.
The newspaper published other Muhammad caricatures that draw denunciations around the Islamic world.The newspaper published other Muhammad caricatures that draw denunciations around the Islamic world.
Charlie Hebdo — whose name purportedly borrows from Charlie Brown of the “Peanuts” cartoon strip — began publication in 1992 with staff member reunited from a previous satirical publication that closed in the early 1980s.Charlie Hebdo — whose name purportedly borrows from Charlie Brown of the “Peanuts” cartoon strip — began publication in 1992 with staff member reunited from a previous satirical publication that closed in the early 1980s.
It has lampooned a range of subjects, including popes, presidents and other officials in addition to occasional pieces of serious journalism such as investigative stories. One cover depicted an Orthodox Jew killing a Nazi soldier. It has lampooned a range of subjects, including popes, presidents, entertainers and others in addition to occasional pieces of serious journalism such as investigative stories. One cover depicted an Orthodox Jew kissing a Nazi soldier; another showed former Pope Benedict XVI dancing with a member of the Swiss Guard.
But its treatment of Islamic subjects has brought the harshest response. But its irreverent treatment of Islamic subjects has brought the harshest response.
“Muhammad isn’t sacred to me,” Chief editor Stephane Charbonnier, who publishes under the pen name “Charb,” told the AP in 2012. “I don’t blame Muslims for not laughing at our drawings. I live under French law. I don’t live under Quranic law.”“Muhammad isn’t sacred to me,” Chief editor Stephane Charbonnier, who publishes under the pen name “Charb,” told the AP in 2012. “I don’t blame Muslims for not laughing at our drawings. I live under French law. I don’t live under Quranic law.”
In Britain, Prime Minister David Cameron called the attack “sickening.” In Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest condemned the attack in “the strongest terms.”
British Prime Minister David Cameron called the attack “sickening.”
NATO Secretary General Jens Stolenberg condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with France.NATO Secretary General Jens Stolenberg condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with France.
“This was a barbaric act and an outrageous attack on press freedom,” he said in a statement from NATO headquarters in Brussels.“This was a barbaric act and an outrageous attack on press freedom,” he said in a statement from NATO headquarters in Brussels.
Griff Witte and Karla Adam in London contributed to this report.Griff Witte and Karla Adam in London contributed to this report.