As you might of heard earlier today, terrorists attacked the magazine ‘Charlie Hebdo’, a popular satirical magazine here in France. Three Masked Gunmen who were armed with Kalashnikovs and a rocket-launcher opened fire in the Paris offices of the magazine killing 12 people, including two police officers.
Among the dead are the magazine’s editor and cartoonist, Stéphane Charbonnier, aka Charb, and his fellow cartoonists Cabu, Georges Wolinski, Bernard Verlhac, known as Tignous and Bernard Maris, an economist on the magazine.
Several more were injured in the attack, and four have been described as very serious.
Several witnesses reported that the attackers shouted, “We have avenged the Prophet Muhammad,” as they fled the magazine’s offices.
Speaking at the scene shortly after the shooting, President Francois Hollande said: “An act of exceptional barbarism has been committed here in Paris.” and urged France to stay “firm and strong”, adding: “We need to show we are a united country. ”
A nationwide manhunt has now been launched to hunt for the attackers, before any further attacks can take place.
The attack has sparked anger and outrage worldwide, with many world leaders condemning the attack, and that it was an act against the freedoms of speech and freedom of the press.
Most social media users are using the hashtag #jesuischarlie as a show of solidarity, and a rally is organized tonight in the centre of Paris with probably several more taking place in many towns and cities throughout France.
#jesuischarlie
