Charlie Hebdo shooting

Charlie Hebdo shooting
Journalists, policemen, and emergency services in the street of the shooting, a few hours after the attack
Location	10 rue Nicolas-Appert, 11th arrondissement of Paris, France
Coordinates	48.859246°N 2.370258°E / 48.859246; 2.370258
Date	7 January 2015 11:30 CET (UTC+01:00)
Target	Charlie Hebdo employees
Attack type	Armed attack
Weapons	Kalashnikov rifles Shotgun Rocket-propelled grenade launcher
Deaths	12
Injured	11
Perpetrators	Saïd Kouachi, Chérif Kouachi, and Hamyd Mourad (suspected)

On 7 January 2015, at approximately 11:30 CET (10:30 UTC), three masked gunmen armed with Kalashnikov rifles, a shotgun, and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher stormed the headquarters of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris. They shot and killed 12 people, including Charlie Hebdo staff and two French National police officers, and wounded 11 others.

The gunmen entered the building and began shooting with automatic weapons, while shouting "Allahu Akbar". Up to 50 shots were fired during the attack. Following a massive manhunt, the French police believe they have located the attackers and are mounting an operation against them.

The incident is France's deadliest act of terrorism since 18 June 1961, when 28 people died in a train bombing.

Background

Main article: Charlie Hebdo

Charlie Hebdo (French pronunciation: [ʃaʁli ɛbdo]; French for Weekly Charlie) is a French satirical weekly newspaper, featuring cartoons, reports, polemics, and jokes. Irreverent and stridently non-conformist in tone, the publication is strongly antireligious and left-wing, publishing articles about the extreme right, Catholicism, Islam, Judaism, politics, and culture, among other issues.

Charlie Hebdo was first published from 1969 to 1981. It folded, but was resurrected in 1992. Cartoonist Stéphane "Charb" Charbonnier was the editor-in-chief from 2009 until his death in this shooting.

Charlie Hebdo, which has a history of attracting controversy, was unsuccessfully sued in 2006 by Islamic organizations, for having published the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons. The cover of a 2011 issue, dubbed "Charia Hebdo", depicted a cartoon of the Islamic prophet Muhammed. The newspaper's office, at the time in the 20th arrondissement, was fire-bombed and its website hacked. The following year, the newspaper published a series of satirical cartoons of Muhammad, including nude caricatures; this came days after a series of attacks on U.S. embassies in the Middle East, purportedly in response to the anti-Islamic film Innocence of Muslims, prompting the French government to close embassies, consulates, cultural centers, and international schools in about 20 Muslim countries. Riot police surrounded the newspaper's offices to protect against possible attacks. In 2013, Stéphane "Charb" Charbonnier was added to Al-Qaeda's most wanted list, along with Jyllands-Posten staff Kurt Westergaard, Carsten Juste and Flemming Rose.

Event

On 7 January 2015, at approximately 11:30 CET (10:30 UTC), two masked gunmen armed with Kalashnikov rifles, a shotgun, and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher stormed Charlie Hebdo's Paris headquarters. They opened fire with automatic weapons while shouting "Allahu Akbar", as reflected on video of the attack.

They shot and killed 12 people, and wounded 11 others. Two of those they killed were police officers. Prior to the shooting, they had burst into number 6 rue Nicolas-Appert, an address located further down from the Charlie Hebdo headquarters where the magazine's archives were based. The gunmen reportedly shouted "Is this Charlie Hebdo?", before realizing they had the wrong address and fleeing further down the road to number 10 rue Nicolas Appert.

Cartoonist Corinne Rey reported that two armed and hooded men, speaking perfect French, threatened the life of her toddler daughter whom she had picked up from day care, and forced her to type in the code to open the door to the building. They then moved up to an office on the second floor, where the staff were in an editorial meeting, with approximately 15 members in attendance. The entire shooting lasted between five and ten minutes. Witnesses reported that the gunmen sought out members of the staff by name before executing them with single shots to the head. Other witnesses reported that the gunmen identified themselves as belonging to al-Qaeda in Yemen.

An authenticated video surfaced on the Internet showing two gunmen, along with a wounded police officer contorting with pain on the sidewalk after an exchange of gunfire. One of the gunmen then ran towards the policeman, shouting, "Did you want to kill me?" The policeman then answered "No, it's good, chief", raising his hand towards the gunman, before being shot in the head at close range by him. The two gunmen then left the scene, shouting in natural French that "[w]e have avenged the Prophet Muhammad, we killed Charlie Hebdo".

The gunmen escaped in a getaway car and drove to Porte de Pantin, where they hijacked another car, forcing the driver out. As they fled, they ran over a pedestrian and shot at responding police officers. There are three suspects in total. A massive manhunt for the suspects was launched immediately after the attack. Police officers are searching their apartments. The RAID, the special operations tactical unit of the French National Police, launched an assault in Reims, where the suspects have been located.

Victims

During the attack, twelve people were killed and eleven more were wounded, four seriously. Eleven died inside the headquarters of Charlie Hebdo, while the twelfth victim died outside the building.

Killed

• Charb (age 47), cartoonist and editor-in-chief of Charlie Hebdo
• Cabu (age 76), noted cartoonist
• Honoré (age 74), noted cartoonist
• Tignous (age 57), noted cartoonist
• Wolinski (age 80), noted cartoonist
• Bernard Maris (age 68), economist, editor, and columnist
• Michael Renaud, guest columnist
• Frédéric Boisseau, Sodexo employee hired specifically for the meeting
• Elsa Cayat, psychoanalyst and columnist
• Moustapha Ourad, proofreader
• Franck Brinsolaro, police officer, was assigned as a bodyguard for Charb
• Merabet Ahmed, police officer, killed outside while responding to the attack

• 
  Charb in 2009
• 
  Cabu in 2008
• 
  Wolinski in 2007
• 
  Tignous in 2010

Wounded

• Philippe Lancon, journalist, shot in the face and in critical condition
• Fabrice Nicolino, journalist, shot in the leg
• Laurent "Riz" Sourisseau, cartoonist
• Several unidentified police officers

Suspects

Saïd Kouachi and Chérif Kouachi were identified by French police as the main suspects in the shooting. The two Franco-Algerian brothers, both from Gennevilliers, are aged 34 and 32, respectively. In 2008, Chérif Kouachi was convicted of terrorism charges and sentenced to three years in prison, along with 18 months of suspension, for having assisted in sending fighters to Iraq's insurgency.

Hamyd Mourad, an 18-year-old homeless man of unknown nationality, was identified by the police as a third suspect in the shooting. He is believed to have been living recently in Charleville-Mezieres. AFP news agency reported that France's elite anti-terrorist unit had gone to Reims. At 2.22 a.m. CET on 8 January, the BBC reported that he had surrendered to police.

Reactions

Government

Local

The attack has been widely condemned by the French and other governments. French President François Hollande addressed media outlets at the scene of the shooting and called it "undoubtedly a terrorist attack", and added that "several [other] terrorist attacks were thwarted in recent weeks". He later described the shooting as a "terrorist attack of the most extreme barbarity" and declared a day of national mourning on 8 January.

Anne Hidalgo, attending a rally in the Place de la République in the wake of the shooting, said, "What we saw today was an attack on the values of our republic, Paris is a peaceful place. These cartoonists, writers and artists used their pens with a lot of humour to address sometimes awkward subjects and as such performed an essential function." She also proposed that Charlie Hebdo "be adopted as a citizen of honour" by Paris.

International

Statements have also been offered by several international leaders and governments:

• Argentina – The Argentine Government strongly condemned the attack in a statement released by the Foreign Ministry. President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner added: "The Government and people of Argentina emphatically condemn the barbaric terrorist attack that took place today in the French capital. We send our profound condolences to the people of France, especially to the families of the victims." It was further stated that, "Argentina remains with a steadfast commitment to peace with the hope that stronger international cooperation will help fight the scourge of terrorism in all of its forms."
• Armenia – Minister of Foreign Affairs Eduard Nalbandyan issued a press release, saying, "We strongly condemn terrorist act committed at the office of 'Charlie Hebdo' magazine in Paris" and added that "such appalling actions of extremists has no justification whatsoever and once again prove the necessity of wider solidarity in the international community's fight against terrorism." The Armenian Government also expressed their "condolences and support to the people, authorities of friendly France, editorial staff of 'Charlie Hebdo' magazine, and the relatives of the victims."
• Australia – Prime Minister Tony Abbott offered his condolences, saying, "The government condemns the atrocity in Paris overnight. The thoughts of all Australians are with the families of those who have lost their lives in this barbaric act. Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of a free society.”
• Belgium – Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders was shocked and disgusted by the attack, calling it "[a] barbarous attack at the heart of Europe." He expressed his sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims and to the people of France. He further regarded the terrorist act as "[a]n attack against freedom of expression, a precious fundamental freedom which we must continue to defend." A national security assessment within Belgium was also ordered by Prime Minister Charles Michel in response to the attack.
• Brazil – President Dilma Rousseff expressed outrage and remorse, "It is with deep regret and indignation that I learned today of the bloody and intolerable attack on Charlie Hebdo. I wish to extend my condolences to the families of the victims during this time of pain and suffering. I also want extend our government's solidarity to the French people on behalf of the entire Brazilian nation."
• Canada – Prime Minister Stephen Harper described the attack as an act of barbaric violence and further added that, "Canada and its allies will not be intimidated and will continue to stand firmly together against terrorists who would threaten the peace, freedom and democracy our countries so dearly value. Canadians stand with France on this dark day."
• Colombia – The Government of Colombia, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issued a press release condemning the attack against Charlie Hebdo and declared it as an act of terrorism. The Colombian Government also lamented the attack and called France "a partner and friend of Colombia", while also defending life and the freedom of speech as "inviolable universal rights".
• Croatia – President Ivo Josipović and Prime Minister Zoran Milanović condemned the shooting.
• Denmark – Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt noted, "Completely defenceless and innocent people became the victims of what appears to be an attack on free speech. The French society, like ours, is open, democratic and based on a free and critical press. Those are values that are deeply rooted in all of us, and which we shall protect. It is also those very values that make France a strong society that can withstand an attack like this."
• Egypt – Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry offered his condolences on behalf of Egypt, saying, "Egypt stands by France in confronting terrorism, an international phenomenon that targets the world's security and stability and which requires co-ordinated international efforts to eradicate."
• European Union – The European Union leadership condemned the attack and expressed its solidarity with France. Newly appointed European Council President Donald Tusk expressed his shock at the shooting and said, "The European Union stands beside France after this appalling act. It is a brutal attack against our fundamental values and against the freedom of expression, a pillar of our democracy. The fight against terrorism in all its forms must continue unabated."
• Germany – Chancellor Angela Merkel called the attack an abhorrent act, and added that it was "[n]ot just an attack on the life of French citizens and the internal security of France. It also represents an attack on freedom of opinion and of the press, (an attack on) a core element of our free and democratic culture, [an attack] for which there can be no justification."
• India – President Pranab Mukherjee condemned the terrorist attack and said, "Terror and violence have no place in any corner of the world. The world community must unite to root out terror from every country and society." Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered further condolences, saying, "Our solidarity with [the] people of France. My thoughts are with [the] families of those who lost their lives."
• Iran - The Iranian spokeswoman of the Foreign Ministry Marzieh Afkham condemned the attack and said that "any terrorist action against innocent humans is against the teachings of Islam".[1]
• Ireland - Taoiseach Enda Kenny condemned the "brutal and horrific killings" and expressed solidarity with the victims and their families. He described the incident as "a direct attack on the basic values of freedom of speech and of tolerance."
• Israel – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack as "brutal act of savagery" and sent condolences to the French people. He stressed that the free world must unite against Islamic terrorism. Foreign Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman also sent condolences to the victims' families, and said, "Israel sympathizes with France's pain. The world must not allow terrorists to intimidate the free world and the West is obligated to stand united and determined against this threat".
• Italy – Prime Minister Matteo Renzi expressed a feeling of horror and dismay regarding the attack. He offered his best wishes to the people of France and noted his close relationships with President François Hollande and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. "Violence will always lose against freedom and democracy," he added. He was later invited to the French embassy, where he declared, "We are all French, because we think freedom is the only 'raison d'etre' of Europe and European citizens."
• Mexico – Mexico's Secretariat of Foreign Affairs condemned the attacks and stated that all Mexico rejects all forms and manifestations of terrorism. It offered its condolences to the French government and its citizens, as well as to the victims' families. President Enrique Peña Nieto also offered his condolences through Twitter.
• Monaco – Prince Albert II said, "On my own behalf and on behalf of my family and the people of Monaco, I want to express our dismay at such barbarity."
• Morocco - In a message to President Hollande, King Mohammed VI sent his sincere condolences to families of the victims, and the whole french population, condemning the attack as a "heinous act".
• Poland – The Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz stated that the attack was aimed at Europe's most basic values such as democracy and freedom of speech. She also expressed condolences to the families and relatives of the victims.
• Portugal – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered their sincerest condolences, saying, "We strongly condemn the violent attack that took place today in Paris and we deeply lament the loss of life. We are closely monitoring the situation from the Embassy of Portugal in Paris. Our consulate general will be in constant contact with the French authorities."
• Romania – Prime Minister Victor Ponta declared that he was "deeply shocked" by the events. Ponta, President Klaus Iohannis, and the Romanian Information Service (SRI) met to discuss about the attack.
• Russia – President Vladimir Putin said, "We decisively condemn this cynical crime. We reaffirm our readiness to continue active co-operation in combating the threat of terrorism."
• Serbia – Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić offered deepest condolences, saying, "We are terrified by this event, but we are confident that France and the great French civilisation, known for its tolerance, will know how to deal with the threat that terrorism carries. The Republic of Serbia will, with all its capacities, help the fight against terrorism, the world's greatest scourge. The French Republic can always count on friendly and sincere support of the Republic of Serbia."
• Spain – President Mariano Rajoy condemned the attack, which was described as barbaric, sent his condolences and solidarity to the victims' families and the French people. He said, "They will not be able to destroy the most sacred that we human beings have, that is, our rights and our freedoms. France has the solidarity and affection of the Spanish people, and the cooperation of our government in the fight against terrorism."
• Sweden – Prime Minister Stefan Löfven condemned the attack, calling it "a disgusting attack against the democratic foundations", and "an attack that emphasises our responsibility to always stand up for the freedom of the press and freedom of expression".
• Turkey – Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu sent his condolences to the people of France and added, "We condemn terrorism in the strongest manner. We stand with the people of France. Terrorism has no religion, nationality or a value it represents. Terrorism is a crime against humanity and can in no way be justified." Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Yalçın Akdoğan also made a statement condemning the shooting.
• United Kingdom – Prime Minister David Cameron told the House of Commons, "This House and this country stand united with the French people in our opposition to all forms of terrorism and we stand squarely for free speech and democracy. These people will never be able to take us off those values." Queen Elizabeth II also sent "sincere condolences".
• United Nations – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced his outrage at the shooting, which he called "despicable", and described it as a "horrendous, unjustifiable and cold-blooded crime".
• United States – President Barack Obama called the shootings horrific, while offering his support, saying, "France is America's oldest ally, and has stood shoulder to shoulder with the United States in the fight against terrorists who threaten our shared security and the world. Time and again, the French people have stood up for the universal values that generations of our people have defended. France, and the great city of Paris, where this outrageous attack took place, offer the world a timeless example that will endure well beyond the hateful vision of these killers." United States Secretary of State John Kerry, who has deep family ties to France, also said that the U.S. was standing in solidarity with France and offered assistance in confronting extremism.
• Vatican City – Vatican press director Father Federico Lombardi stated, "The Holy Father expresses his firmest condemnation of the horrible attack. Whatever its motivation might be, homicidal violence is abominable and is never justified." Pope Francis also added that attacks undermine "the fundamental good of peaceful coexistence of people despite national, religious and cultural differences".

Other political leaders also issued statements condemning the attack, including:

• European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker
• Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte
• Chilean President Michelle Bachelet
• Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko
• The Swiss Federal Council

Security

Following the attack, France raised its terror alert to the highest level and deployed soldiers to Paris' public transport, media offices, places of worship, and the Eiffel Tower. The British Foreign Office warned its citizens about travelling to Paris. The New York City Police Department also ordered extra security measures to the French Consulate-General headquarters in Manhattan. In Denmark, the centre of a controversy over cartoons of Muhammad in 2005, security was increased at all media outlets.

Public

Demonstrations

Multiple demonstrations were held against the shootings at the Place de la République in Paris, as well as Toulouse., Nice, Lyon, Marseille, and Rennes.

• 
  Demonstrators gather at the Place de la République in Paris
• 
  Demonstrators in Bordeaux

Demonstrators in Strasbourg showing the Je suis Charlie slogan.

Je suis Charlie (Error: {{language with name/for}}: missing language tag or language name (help))

The slogan "Je suis Charlie" ("I am Charlie") was used by supporters of free speech against the shooting. The statement identifies the speaker with those who died at the Charlie Hebdo shooting, and by extension for freedom of speech and resistance to armed threats. It was used as the hashtag #jesuischarlie on Twitter, as printed or hand-made placards, and displayed on mobile phones at vigils, and on many websites, particularly media sites, for example Le Monde. Je suis Charlie quickly trended at the top of Twitter hashtags worldwide following the attack. The US Embassy in Paris changed its Twitter profile picture to the "Je suis Charlie" placard.

Demonstrations and vigils also spread to other cities outside of France as well, including Berlin, Copenhagen, London, and Washington, D.C. Around 2,000 demonstrators also gathered in London's Trafalgar Square, where they sang the French National Anthem.

Media reactions

Media organizations carried out protests against the shootings. Libération, Le Monde, and Le Figaro, along with other French media outlets, used black banners carrying the "Je suis Charlie" slogan across the top of their websites. The front page of Libération's printed version was a different black banner, stating "Nous sommes tous Charlie" (We are all Charlie), while Paris Normandie renamed itself Charlie Normandie for the day. The French version of Google displayed a black ribbon of mourning on the day of the attack.

Ian Hislop, editor of the British satirical magazine Private Eye, released a statement, saying, "I am appalled and shocked by this horrific attack – a murderous attack on free speech in the heart of Europe. [...] Very little seems funny today." Many cartoonists from around the world responded to the attack on Charlie Hebdo by posting cartoons relating to the shooting.

Several news organizations like CNN, Associated Press, and The Daily Telegraph chose to not show the caricatures while covering the case in order to not offend Muslims, while on the other hard news sites like Huffington Post and The Daily Beast featured the caricatures in slideshows.

Several other media publications such as the Berliner Kurier from Berlin, Germany and Gazeta Wyborcza from Poland have chosen to re-print the exact same cartoon the day after the attack. At least three Danish newspapers decided to feature Charlie Hebdo cartoons, with the tabloid B.T. opting to use one on the cover in which Muhammad laments being loved by "idiots".

Other reactions

Salman Rushdie, who received death threats after The Satanic Verses was published, expressed his support for Charlie Hebdo. He said, "I stand with Charlie Hebdo, as we all must, to defend the art of satire, which has always been a force for liberty and against tyranny, dishonesty and stupidity, [-] religious totalitarianism has caused a deadly mutation in the heart of Islam and we see the tragic consequences in Paris today."

Muslim community

The French Council of the Muslim Faith and the Muslim Council of Britain spoke out against the attack, with imam Dalil Boubakeur stating: "[W]e are horrified by the brutality and the savagery." The Union of Islamic Organisations of France released a statement condemning the attack, along with imam Hassen Chalghoumi saying that those behind the attack "have sold their soul to hell". The vice president of the U.S. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community also condemned the attack, saying: "The culprits behind this atrocity have violated every Islamic tenet of compassion, justice, and peace." According to International Business Times columnist Zoe Mintz, the "Je suis Charlie" slogan was also used by Muslim social media users, with some condemning the attack specifically as an assault on free speech. She also noted that some users were concerned that "Muslims will be linked to an attack committed by extremists and become the target of discrimination."

The League of Arab States released a collective condemnation of the attack. Al-Azhar University also released a statement of denunciation, that violence was never appropriate regardless of "offence committed against sacred Muslim sentiments".

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu raised concerns that the attack could fuel further anti-Islamic stances in France and in Europe as a whole, stances which he said help to fuel terrorism itself. The Dutch Council of Moroccan Mosques also raised concerns that the tension could result in anti-Islam violence in the Netherlands.

ABC News reported that "[a]s news of the killings in Paris reached the Middle East, celebratory gunfire was reported in a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon", but provided no source for the report. The Guardian reported that "Other Muslims said they would only condemn the Paris attack if France condemned the killings of Muslims worldwide." Other supporters of the gunmen in the Paris terror attack celebrated on Twitter.

See also

• List of terrorist attacks in France
• Kurt Westergaard attacks, attacks on cartoonist who depicted Muhammad
• Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
• The Satanic Verses controversy (novel, 1988, global)
• Lars Vilks Muhammad drawings controversy
• Media related to 2015 Charlie Hebdo magazine shooting at Wikimedia Commons