This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30719057
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Charlie Hebdo: Major manhunt for Paris gunmen | Charlie Hebdo: Major manhunt for Paris gunmen |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A major manhunt has been launched for three gunmen who shot dead 12 people at the Paris office of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. | A major manhunt has been launched for three gunmen who shot dead 12 people at the Paris office of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. |
| Eight journalists, including the magazine's editor, and two policemen were among the dead. Police have named the suspects, who include two brothers. | |
| A police operation is under way in Reims, north-east of Paris. | A police operation is under way in Reims, north-east of Paris. |
| Protests over the attack, the deadliest the country has seen in decades, are being held across France. | Protests over the attack, the deadliest the country has seen in decades, are being held across France. |
| President Francois Hollande called it a "cowardly murder" and declared a day of national mourning on Thursday. | President Francois Hollande called it a "cowardly murder" and declared a day of national mourning on Thursday. |
| He said the country's tradition of free speech had been attacked and called on all French people to stand together. "Our best weapon is our unity," Mr Hollande said in a televised address late on Wednesday. | He said the country's tradition of free speech had been attacked and called on all French people to stand together. "Our best weapon is our unity," Mr Hollande said in a televised address late on Wednesday. |
| Security has been stepped up across France in the wake of the attack, with Paris placed on the highest alert. | Security has been stepped up across France in the wake of the attack, with Paris placed on the highest alert. |
| The three suspects have been named in a police document circulated to regional forces as Hamyd Mourad and brothers Said Kouachi and Cherif Kouachi. | |
| Media reports described Cherif Kouachi as a militant sentenced in 2008 to three years in prison for belonging to a group sending jihadist fighters to Iraq. | |
| BBC Paris correspondent Lucy Williamson says there are separate reports of police operations taking place outside the capital and in the eastern city of Reims, 140km (90 miles) from Paris. | |
| A large security operation involving elite commandoes is taking place in Reims, although officials are refusing to give any details. | |
| The satirical weekly has courted controversy in the past with its irreverent take on news and current affairs. It was firebombed in November 2011 a day after it carried a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad. | The satirical weekly has courted controversy in the past with its irreverent take on news and current affairs. It was firebombed in November 2011 a day after it carried a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad. |
| The attack took place as the magazine was holding its weekly editorial meeting. French media have named three cartoonists killed in the attack as Cabu, Tignous and Wolinski, as well as Charlie Hebdo contributor and French economist Bernard Maris. | The attack took place as the magazine was holding its weekly editorial meeting. French media have named three cartoonists killed in the attack as Cabu, Tignous and Wolinski, as well as Charlie Hebdo contributor and French economist Bernard Maris. |
| Charlie Hebdo editor Stephane Charbonnier, 47, had received death threats in the past and was living under police protection. | Charlie Hebdo editor Stephane Charbonnier, 47, had received death threats in the past and was living under police protection. |
| Cartoonist Corinne Rey, said the hooded gunmen entered the building after forcing her to enter the code to open the door. | Cartoonist Corinne Rey, said the hooded gunmen entered the building after forcing her to enter the code to open the door. |
| "They said they belonged to al-Qaeda," she said, adding they had spoken in fluent French. | "They said they belonged to al-Qaeda," she said, adding they had spoken in fluent French. |
| Eyewitnesses said they heard as many as 50 shots fired by the attackers both inside the Charlie Hebdo office and on the streets outside. | Eyewitnesses said they heard as many as 50 shots fired by the attackers both inside the Charlie Hebdo office and on the streets outside. |
| The gunmen were captured on amateur video shooting one injured police officer at point blank range in the head on the pavement outside. | The gunmen were captured on amateur video shooting one injured police officer at point blank range in the head on the pavement outside. |
| They were heard shouting "we have avenged the Prophet Muhammad" and "God is Great" in Arabic ("Allahu Akbar"). | They were heard shouting "we have avenged the Prophet Muhammad" and "God is Great" in Arabic ("Allahu Akbar"). |
| Police said the masked gunmen fled to northern Paris, before abandoning their car and hijacking a second one. | Police said the masked gunmen fled to northern Paris, before abandoning their car and hijacking a second one. |
| The Paris prosecutor, Francois Molins, said 11 people had been wounded in the attack, four of them seriously. | The Paris prosecutor, Francois Molins, said 11 people had been wounded in the attack, four of them seriously. |
| He told reporters all efforts were being made to find those responsible, without giving any details about the investigation. | He told reporters all efforts were being made to find those responsible, without giving any details about the investigation. |
| "The investigations have been numerous and in-depth, because of course, the police have been mobilised, and these inquiries are going on." | "The investigations have been numerous and in-depth, because of course, the police have been mobilised, and these inquiries are going on." |
| The killings have been condemned by leaders worldwide, with US President Barack Obama offering to help France track down those responsible. | The killings have been condemned by leaders worldwide, with US President Barack Obama offering to help France track down those responsible. |
| Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Sunni Islam's leading centre of learning, called the attack "criminal" and said "Islam denounces any violence". | Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Sunni Islam's leading centre of learning, called the attack "criminal" and said "Islam denounces any violence". |
| The Arab League also condemned the attack. Pope Francis called it "abominable". | The Arab League also condemned the attack. Pope Francis called it "abominable". |
| Thousands of people have gathered at the Place de la Republique in central Paris for a vigil, many holding up placards saying "Je suis Charlie" (I am Charlie), referring to a hashtag that is trending on Twitter in solidarity with the victims. | Thousands of people have gathered at the Place de la Republique in central Paris for a vigil, many holding up placards saying "Je suis Charlie" (I am Charlie), referring to a hashtag that is trending on Twitter in solidarity with the victims. |
| Piles of pens - symbolising freedom of expression - and candles have been laid across the square. | Piles of pens - symbolising freedom of expression - and candles have been laid across the square. |
| Tens of thousands of people have also joined rallies in other cities across France. | Tens of thousands of people have also joined rallies in other cities across France. |
| Charlie Hebdo's website, which went offline during the attack, is displaying the single image of "Je suis Charlie" on a black banner. Other major newspapers are displaying similar banners. | Charlie Hebdo's website, which went offline during the attack, is displaying the single image of "Je suis Charlie" on a black banner. Other major newspapers are displaying similar banners. |
| The latest tweet on Charlie Hebdo's account was a cartoon of the Islamic State militant group leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. | The latest tweet on Charlie Hebdo's account was a cartoon of the Islamic State militant group leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. |
| Analysis: Hugh Schofield, BBC News, Paris | Analysis: Hugh Schofield, BBC News, Paris |
| Charlie Hebdo is part of a venerable tradition in French journalism going back to the scandal sheets that denounced Marie-Antoinette in the run-up to the French Revolution. | Charlie Hebdo is part of a venerable tradition in French journalism going back to the scandal sheets that denounced Marie-Antoinette in the run-up to the French Revolution. |
| The tradition combines left-wing radicalism with a provocative scurrility that often borders on the obscene. Its decision to mock the Prophet Muhammad in 2011 was entirely consistent with its historic raison d'etre. | The tradition combines left-wing radicalism with a provocative scurrility that often borders on the obscene. Its decision to mock the Prophet Muhammad in 2011 was entirely consistent with its historic raison d'etre. |
| The paper has never sold in enormous numbers - and for 10 years from 1981, it ceased publication for lack of resources. | The paper has never sold in enormous numbers - and for 10 years from 1981, it ceased publication for lack of resources. |
| But with its garish front-page cartoons and incendiary headlines, it is an unmissable staple of newspaper kiosks and railway station booksellers. | But with its garish front-page cartoons and incendiary headlines, it is an unmissable staple of newspaper kiosks and railway station booksellers. |
| Charlie Hebdo and its satirical role | Charlie Hebdo and its satirical role |
| Live updates | Live updates |
| Europe's struggle with Islamism | Europe's struggle with Islamism |
| The country was already on the alert for Islamist militant attacks after several incidents just before Christmas, although the French government has denied the attacks were linked. | The country was already on the alert for Islamist militant attacks after several incidents just before Christmas, although the French government has denied the attacks were linked. |
| It is the deadliest attack in France since 1961, when a bomb planted by far-right militants opposed to plans for Algerian independence killed 28 people on a train. | It is the deadliest attack in France since 1961, when a bomb planted by far-right militants opposed to plans for Algerian independence killed 28 people on a train. |
| Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, which published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in 2005 sparking riots in Muslim countries, says it has stepped up security in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attack. | Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, which published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in 2005 sparking riots in Muslim countries, says it has stepped up security in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attack. |