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Paris Reels After Terrorist Attack at Magazine Charlie Hebdo

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Update: 3:59pm
Update: 11:14am

Paris, the country of France, and the entire world are still reeling after a shooting at the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo just a few hours ago. As of right now, there have been 12 confirmed dead, and at least five seriously injured, although those numbers are probably not final. The three attackers are apparently still at large, and a massive manhunt is underway. It is believed to be a terrorist attack.

Details are still very unclear, but here’s what we know right now. Charlie Hebdo is a popular, pretty biting satirical newspaper. It has created controversy before for its portrayal of the prophet Muhammad, particularly in 2011, when its offices were firebombed. No one is completely sure who is behind this attack, and there has been no claim of responsibility as of yet, but some are saying that it was the extremist Islamic State (ISIS). That would make some sense, given that they had been recently threatening to attack France, and Charlie Hebdo had just tweeted a satirical cartoon about its leader minutes before its offices were attacked.

Again, while who exactly is responsible for this attack remains unknown, various jihadist groups have come forward in support of the massacre. Those accolades mention the previous Charlie Hebdo Muhammad cartoon, as well as France’s involvement in conflicts in the Middle East.

According to reports, three masked gunmen stormed the publication’s headquarters during an editorial meeting and killed the editor-in-chief Stephane Charbonnier as well as some of the magazine’s prominent cartoonists, and at least one writer. According to videos of the incident, at least two police officers were also killed in the attack. Charbonnier has long been a controversial figure in French culture because of his role with Charlie Hebdo, and was actually living under police protection.

Now the city is essentially on lockdown; schools are on lockdown and the security alert has been raised to its highest level. Top French leaders are meeting to discuss the plan moving forward, and police are still looking for the three gunmen who escaped by car. They apparently abandoned the escape car, however, and have hijacked a second. The city, and world, remain on high alert.

France has received statements of support from many world leaders during this horrifying tragedy, including from President Obama. He put out a statement that reads as follows:

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.

There has also been international solidarity expressed on Twitter and other forms of social media. The phrase “Je Suis Charlie,” which translates to “I am Charlie” has been trending on Twitter.

This isn’t the first time that a journalistic enterprise has become the target of terrorism. If this was ISIS (again, important to remember that this has not been confirmed) or another extremist Islamic terrorist group, it’s easy to remember the killings of James Foley and Steven Sotloff, among others, earlier this year.

Charlie Hebdo may be a satirical paper, known for its biting and often purposefully controversial content, but that does not make the role that it’s served any less important. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press, whether in the United States, France, or anywhere else are freedoms that cannot be lost.

We’ll keep this story updated as it breaks, but we here at Law Street send our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the Charlie Hebdo staff. Je suis Charlie.

Update: 3:59pm: Police are searching for two brothers from the Paris area, and a third man from Reins. The police have not released their names, but are searching apartment buildings in Parisian suburbs.

Update: 11:13am: Eyewitnesses are now claiming that those responsible for the attack were part of Al-Qaida, and out of Yemen. Eyewitness Corrine Ray stated: “I had gone to pick up my daughter from daycare. Arriving at the door of the newspaper building, two hooded and armed men brutally threatened us. They wanted to enter, go up. I typed the code. They shot Wolinski, Cabu … it lasted five minutes … I had taken refuge under a desk … They spoke French perfectly … claiming to be Al-Qaida.”

Anneliese Mahoney
Anneliese Mahoney
Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.
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