Charlie Hebdo shooting

Charlie Hebdo shooting
Journalists, police officers and emergency vehicles converged on the street of the shooting as seen in this photo a few hours after.
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	Mass shooting
Weapons	AK-47s Shotgun RPG
Deaths	12 (Charlie Hebdo shooting) 1 (Montrouge shooting) 2 (suspects of hostage crisis at Dammartin-en-Goële) 2 (victims of hostage crisis at Porte de Vincennes) Total: 17
Injured	at least 12
Perpetrators	Saïd Kouachi, Chérif Kouachi, and perhaps a third person (suspected)
Motive	Jihadism

On 7 January 2015, at about 11:30 CET (10:30 UTC), two masked gunmen armed with Kalashnikov rifles, a shotgun, and an RPG launcher entered the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, which has attracted worldwide attention for its regular depictions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The attack resulted in the deaths of 12 people, including the editor Stéphane "Charb" Charbonnier, eight other Charlie Hebdo employees, and two National Police officers, while 11 others were wounded.

The gunmen entered the building and began shooting with automatic weapons, while shouting "Allahu Akbar", Arabic for "God is great". Up to 50 shots were fired during the attack.

Several people have been detained by the police in connection with the attack, while a manhunt is underway for the two main suspects. A third suspect was identified at first by the police and gave himself up; no charges are held against him. The assailants have been described by police as "armed and dangerous", and the threat level in Île-de-France and Picardy has been raised to its highest possible status. As of 9 January, the assailants have been identified by police at an industrial estate in the Seine-et-Marne, where they have taken a hostage. The connection between the Charlie Hebdo shooting and another shooting in Montrouge by a fourth suspect is now clearly established. This gunman has also taken hostages near Porte de Vincennes. Police raids have been simultaneously conducted in Dammartin and at Porte de Vincennes. The assailants are dead.

This incident is the deadliest act of terrorism in France since the 1961 Vitry-Le-François train bombing by the OAS a French dissident paramilitary organization opposed to the independence of Algeria, when 28 people died.

The remaining staff of Charlie Hebdo have announced that publication will continue, with next week's edition of the newspaper to be released as usual, but this time with a print run of 1 million copies, much higher than the usual circulation of 60,000 copies.

Background

Main article: Charlie Hebdo

The former building of Charlie Hebdo after it had been set aflame in 2011.

Since the 1960s the Muslim population of European countries such as France and Germany has been growing. By the time of the shooting the Muslim population of France had surpassed 5 million, or an estimated 5–10 percent of the French population of 66 million. Tension between ethnic French and those perceived as outsiders, including immigrants and native-born Muslims, has manifested itself in right-wing politics such as in the anti-immigration platform of the National Front political party led by Marine Le Pen.

Charlie Hebdo (French pronunciation: [ʃaʁli ɛbdo]; French for Weekly Charlie) is a satirical weekly newspaper in France that features 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. The magazine was first published from 1969 to 1981. It folded, but was resurrected in 1992.

The magazine, 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" (a pun on Sharia law), depicted a cartoon of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The newspaper's office, at the time in the 20th arrondissement, was fire-bombed and its website hacked. Religion was a primary target of the magazine, and two years before the attack, Charlie Hebdo cartoonist Stéphane "Charb" Charbonnier stated, "We have to carry on until Islam has been rendered as banal as Catholicism."

In 2012, 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.

Cartoonist Stéphane "Charb" Charbonnier was the editor-in-chief from 2009 until his death in the shooting. In 2013, he had been added to al-Qaeda's most wanted list, along with three Jyllands-Posten staff members: Kurt Westergaard, Carsten Juste and Flemming Rose.

Event

On 7 January 2015, at about 11:30 CET (10:30 UTC), two masked gunmen armed with Kalashnikov rifles, a shotgun, and a RPG launcher stormed Charlie Hebdo's Paris headquarters. They opened fire with automatic weapons while shouting "Allahu Akbar", as captured in a video. They shot and killed 12 people, and wounded 11 others. Two of those killed were police officers.

Before the shooting, the gunmen burst into number 6 Rue Nicolas-Appert, where the magazine's archives were based. The gunmen reportedly shouted, "Is this Charlie Hebdo?", before realising they had the wrong address and left. They then went to the magazine's headquarters at number 10 Rue Nicolas-Appert.

Cartoonist Corinne "Coco" 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. The men went to an office on the second floor, where the staff were in an editorial meeting with about 15 members in attendance. The shooting lasted five to ten minutes. Witnesses reported that the gunmen sought out members of the staff by name before shooting them execution-style. Other witnesses reported that the gunmen identified themselves as belonging to Al-Qaeda in Yemen.

Journalist Sigolène Vinson reported that one of the shooters aimed his gun at her but spared her. "I'm not killing you because you are a woman and we don't kill women but you have to convert to Islam, read the Qu'ran and wear a veil," he told her. She said he left, shouting, "Allahu akbar, allahu akbar."

An authenticated video surfaced on the Internet showing two gunmen and a wounded police officer, Ahmed Merabet, the latter lying in pain on a sidewalk near the corner of Boulevard Richard-Lenoir and Rue Moufle, 180 metres east of the main crime scene, after an exchange of gunfire. One of the gunmen runs toward the policeman, shouting in French, "Did you want to kill me?" The policeman answers, "No, it's good, chief", raising his hand towards the gunman, who shoots the policeman in the head at close range.

The gunmen left the scene, shouting, "We have avenged the Prophet Muhammad. We have killed Charlie Hebdo!" The gunmen escaped in a getaway car and drove to Porte de Pantin, hijacking on the way (corner of Rue de Meaux and Passage de la Brie) another car, forcing the driver out. As they fled, they ran over a pedestrian and shot at responding police officers.

There are three suspects. A massive manhunt began immediately after the attack, after one suspect left his ID card in an abandoned getaway car. Police officers are searching apartments in the Parisian region, in Strasbourg and Reims. One identified suspect turned himself in at a Charleville-Mézières police station. The two other suspects later robbed a filling station near Villers-Cotterêts. There are mixed reports of explosions near the warehouse.

Seven acquaintances of the Kouachi brothers were placed under custody. Jihadist flags and Molotov cocktails were found in an abandoned getaway car. The RAID and the GIGN began searching for the two suspects between Villers-Cotterêts and Crépy-en-Valois; the suspects were said to have abandoned their cars before hiding in a forest near Longpont. As of 10:07 CET on 9 January, the French government confirmed that there had been an exchange of fire in the area near the commune of Dammartin-en-Goële, 35 kilometres (22 mi) northeast of Paris. It has been reported that several people have been injured, and at least one person killed, in the gunfire. It is now reported that a siege is underway at Création Tendance Découverte, a signage production company on an industrial estate in Dammartin-en-Goële and that the gunmen may have a hostage.

Motive

Hatred for Charlie Hebdo's cartoons, which made jokes about Islamic leaders as well as Muhammad, is perceived to be the main motive for the massacre. Former deputy director of the CIA, Michael J. Morell, proposed that the motive of the attackers was "[a]bsolutely clear: trying to shut down a media organization that lampooned the Prophet Muhammad".

In March 2013, Al-Qaeda's branch in Yemen, commonly known as Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), released a hit list in an edition of their English-language magazine Inspire. The list included Stéphane Charbonnier and others whom AQAP accused of insulting Islam.

On 7 January 2015, Charlie Hebdo tweeted a cartoon of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The sarcastic cartoon offers best wishes to Al-Baghdadi; he replies, "And especially good health." The cartoon is signed "HONORE", signifying the cartoon was drawn by Philippe Honoré, who died in the attack later that day. It was Charlie Hebdo's final tweet before the massacre.

Victims

Killed:

• Frédéric Boisseau, 42, building maintenance worker for Sodexo, killed in the lobby.
• Franck Brinsolaro, 49, police (SDLP) officer, assigned as a bodyguard for Charb.
• Cabu (Jean Cabut), 76, cartoonist.
• Elsa Cayat, 54, psychoanalyst and columnist.
• Charb (Stéphane Charbonnier), 47, cartoonist, columnist, and editor-in-chief of Charlie Hebdo.
• Philippe Honoré, 74, cartoonist.
• Bernard Maris, 68, economist, editor, and columnist.
• Ahmed Merabet, 42, Muslim police officer of Algerian descent, shot in the head as he lay wounded on the ground outside.
• Moustapha Ourrad, Algerian copy-editor.
• Michel Renaud, 69, guest at the meeting.
• Tignous (Bernard Verlhac), 57, cartoonist.
• Georges Wolinski, 80, cartoonist.

• 
  Cabu in 2012
• 
  Charb in 2011
• Honoré in 2007
  Honoré in 2007
• 
  Tignous in 2008
• 
  Wolinski in 2011

Wounded:

• Simon Fieschi, 31, webmaster, shot in the shoulder
• fr, journalist, shot in the face and in critical condition
• fr, 59, journalist, shot in the leg
• fr, 48, cartoonist, shot in the shoulder
• Unidentified police officers

Three people in the meeting (two staff members, Sigolène Vinson and fr; and Gerard Gaillard, a guest who accompanied Michel Renaud) were unharmed. The cartoonist who arrived late, and was coerced into letting the shooters inside the building, was Corinne "Coco" Ray, also unharmed.

Suspects

Photograph of Saïd Kouachi from his identification card, left in the getaway car

French police identified Saïd Kouachi (7 September 1980 – 9 January 2015) and Chérif Kouachi (29 November 1982 – 9 January 2015) as the main suspects for the masked gunmen. The two Franco-Algerian Muslims, both from Gennevilliers, are aged 34 and 32 respectively. Their parents were Algerian immigrants to France. The brothers were orphaned at a young age, and Chérif was raised in foster care in Rennes before joining his brother in Paris.

Cherif Kouachi, who also went by the name Abu Issen, was part of the "Buttes-Chaumont network" that helped send would-be jihadists to fight for al-Qaeda in Iraq after the US-UK invasion in 2003. Chérif was arrested in January 2005, at age 22, when he and another man were about to leave for Bashar al-Assad's Syria - at the time the gateway for jihadists to fight US troops in Iraq. Following Cherif's imprisonment between January 2005 and October 2006, Le Monde reported that he came into contact with Djamel Beghal. Beghal was sentenced to 10 years in prison in France in 2001 for his part in a plot to bomb the US embassy in Paris.

He became a student of Farid Benyettou, a radical Muslim preacher at the Addawa mosque in the 19th arrondissement of Paris. Kouachi wanted to attack Jewish targets in France but Benyettou told him that France, unlike Iraq, was not "a land of jihad".

In 2008, Chérif Kouachi was convicted of terrorism and sentenced to three years in prison, with 18 months suspended, for having assisted in sending fighters to militant Islamist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's group in Iraq, and for being part of a group that solicited young French Muslims to fight with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq. Chérif Kouachi said he was inspired to help Iraq's insurgency by outrage at the torture of inmates of the US prison at Abu Ghraib.In 2010 Cherif and Said Kouachi were named in connection with a plot to spring another Islamist, Smain Ait Ali Belkacem, from jail but they were not prosecuted, for lack of evidence.

In 2011, Saïd Kouachi visited Yemen for a number of months and trained with Al Qaeda militants in the Arabian Peninsula.

The police identified an 18-year-old unemployed French Muslim man of North-African descent and unknown nationality as a third suspect in the shooting, accused of driving the getaway car. He is believed to have been living recently in Charleville-Mézières, about 200 km northeast of Paris near France's border with Belgium. On 8 January, it was reported he had turned himself in at a Charleville-Mézières police station. The man said he was in class at the time of the shooting. His involvement in the attack is questionable as all of his classmates testified that he was present at school in Charleville-Mézières during the attack. Police say that he is currently not being charged.

Manhunt

At 10:30 CET on 8 January, the day following the attack, the two suspects were said to have been spotted in Aisne, north-east of Paris. Armed security forces, including the National Gendarmerie Intervention Group (GIGN) and the Force d'intervention de la police nationale (FIPN), were deployed to the department to search for the suspects.

Later that day, the police search was reported to be concentrating on the Picardy region, particularly the area around Villers-Cotterets and the village of Longpont, after the suspects had been reported to have robbed a petrol station near Villers-Cotterets. Searches continued into the surrounding Forêt de Retz, one of the largest forests of France.

Related hostage takings and sieges

A municipal police officer, Clarissa Jean-Philippe, 25, was shot and killed in Montrouge, a southern suburb of Paris on 8 January. An unnamed street sweeper had also been severely wounded in the attack. Press sources have stated that the suspect is from the same jihadist group as the ones that carried out the Charlie Hebdo attack, and French police have said there is a "connection" between them.

As of 10:07 CET on 9 January, the French government confirmed that there had been an exchange of fire in the area near the commune of Dammartin-en-Goële, 35 kilometres (22 mi) northeast of Paris. It is now reported that a siege is underway at Création Tendance Découverte, a signage production company on an industrial estate in Dammartin-en-Goële, at 49.063122°N 2.694095°E / 49.063122; 2.694095, and that the gunmen have taken a 26-year-old male hostage. Given the proximity (10 km) of the siege to Charles de Gaulle Airport, two of the airport's runways have been closed. The Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve stated that "an operation is under way which is set to neutralise the perpetrators of the cowardly attack carried out two days ago", however an Interior Ministry spokesman announced it first wanted to "establish a dialogue" with the suspects. Officials established contact with the suspects, and negotiated the safe evacuation of a school 500 m from the siege.

Also in 9 January, an armed gunman, speculated to be Amedy Coulibaly, 32, attacked a Hypercacher kosher supermarket at Porte de Vincennes, east Paris, taking at least five hostages and reportedly killing two people. He has a female accomplice, speculated to be Hayat Boumeddiene, 26.

At approximately 17:15, explosions and gunfire were heard at both the Dammartin-en-Goële and Porte de Vincennes locations. Shortly thereafter, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that the Kouachi brothers had been killed after "[coming] out firing" on security forces and that their hostage had been rescued. Similarly, numerous hostages at the Porte de Vincennes location were rescued.

Aftermath

France

The remaining staff of Charlie Hebdo announced that the next week's edition of the newspaper was to be released as usual. With eight pages it will be half its usual length and will have a print run of one million copies, compared with its usual 60,000. The Digital Innovation Press Fund donated €250,000 to support the magazine, matching a donation by the French Press and Pluralism Fund. The Guardian Media Group has pledged a separate donation of £100,000 to the same cause.

There were attacks on two mosques and a restaurant nearby, and another on a mosque elsewhere in France, apparently in retaliation for the shootings.

Security

File:Plan Vigipirate - 08 janvier 2015.png

Level of alert in French regions.
  – High chance of threat (threat level 3)
  – Definite threat (threat level 4)

Following the attack, France raised its terror alert to its highest level and deployed soldiers in Paris to public transport system, 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 offices of the Consulate General of France in New York in Manhattan's Upper East Side. In Denmark, which had previously been the center of a controversy over cartoons of Muhammad in 2005, security was increased at all media outlets.

Hours after the shooting, Spanish Interior Minister Jorge Fernández Díaz said that Spain's anti-terrorist security level had been upgraded, and that the country was sharing information with France in relation to the attacks. Spain increased security around public places such as railway stations and increased the police presence on streets throughout the country’s cities.

The British Transport Police confirmed on 8 January that they would be establishing new armed patrols in and around St Pancras International railway station in London, following reports that the suspects were moving north, towards Eurostar stations. They confirmed that the extra patrols were for the reassurance of the public and to maintain visibility and that there were no credible reports at this stage of the suspects heading towards St Pancras.

In Belgium the staff of P-Magazine has been given police protection, although there were no specific threats. P-Magazine published in the past some of the Mohamed cartoons by the Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard.

Demonstrations

Multiple demonstrations were held against the shootings at the Place de la République in Paris, as well as other cities in France including Toulouse, Nice, Lyon, Marseille, and Rennes. These gatherings led to 8 January being declared as an official day of mourning by French President François Hollande.

"I am Charlie" in French. Slogan as endorsement for freedom of free speech and free press.

Supporters of free speech used the slogan "Je suis Charlie" (Error: {{language with name/for}}: missing language tag or language name (help)) against the shooting. The slogan 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 such as Le Monde. Je suis Charlie quickly trended at the top of Twitter hashtags worldwide following the attack. The United States Embassy in Paris changed its Twitter profile picture to the "Je suis Charlie" placard.

Not long after the attack, it is estimated that around 35,000 people gathered in Paris holding "Je suis Charlie" signs in order to condemn the attack, protest terror, and encourage freedom of expression. 15,000 people also gathered in Lyon and Rennes. 10,000 people gathered in Nice and Toulouse; 7,000 in Marseille; and 5,000 each in Nantes, Grenoble, and Bordeaux. Thousands also gathered in Nantes at the Place Royale. More than 100,000 people in total gathered within France to partake in these demonstrations the evening of 7 January.

Similar demonstrations and candle vigils spread to other cities outside of France as well, including Amsterdam, Brussels, Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen, London, and Washington, D.C. Around 2,000 demonstrators had gathered in London's Trafalgar Square and sang La Marseillaise, the French national anthem. In Brussels, two vigils have been held thus far, one immediately at the city's French consulate and a second one at Place du Luxembourg. Many flags around the city were at half-mast on 8 January. In the evening of 8 January over a 100 demonstrations were held from 18:00 in the Netherlands at the time of the silent march in Paris, after the mayors of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht and later more mayors called to do so. Many Dutch government members joined the demonstrations. On the other side of the Atlantic, a crowd gathered late Wednesday night at Union Square in Manhattan, New York City. French ambassador to the United Nations Francois Delattre was present in the Manhattan crowd that had lit candles, held signs, and sang the French national anthem. Several hundred people also showed up outside of the French consulate in San Francisco with "Je suis Charlie" signs to show their solidarity.

Meanwhile, on the evening of 7 January, more vigils and gatherings were held in Canada to show support to France and condemn terrorism. Many cities had notable "Je suis Charlie" gatherings including Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto. In Calgary, there was a strong anti-terrorism sentiment. "We're against terrorism and want to show them that they won't win the battle. It's horrible everything that happened, but they won't win," commented one demonstrator. "It's not only against the French journalists or the French people, it's against freedom – everyone, all over the world, is concerned at what's happening." In Montreal, despite a temperature of −21 °C (−6 °F), over 1,000 people gathered chanting "Liberty!" and "Charlie!" outside of the city's French Consulate. Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre was among the gatherers and proclaimed, "Today, we are all French!" He confirmed the city's full support for the people of France and called for strong support regarding freedom, stating that "We have a duty to protect our freedom of expression. We have the right to say what we have to say." In Argentina, a large demonstration was held to denounce the attacks and show support for the victims outside the French embassy in the capital Buenos Aires.

Immediately on 8 January, the vigils had also spread to Australia. Gatherings had formed in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth with thousands of people holding up "Je suis Charlie" signs. In Sydney, people gathered at Martin Place – the location of a siege less than a month earlier – and in Hyde Park dressed in white clothing as a form of respect; flags were at half-mast at the city's French consulate where bouquets of flowers had been left by mourners. A vigil was held at Federation Square in Melbourne with an emphasis on togetherness, "It doesn't matter what we think about religion or politics, we just have to be together." The gathering in Perth was described by French consul Patrick Kedemos as "a spontaneous, grass roots event". He added, "We are far away but our hearts today [are] with our families and friends in France. It [was] an attack on the liberty of expression, journalists that were prominent in France, and at the same time it's an attack, or a perceived attack on our culture."

• 
  Demonstrators gather at the Place de la République in Paris
• 
  Demonstrators in Bordeaux
• 
  Demonstrators at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
• 
  Tributes to the victims in Brisbane
• A demonstrator holds up a Charlie Hebdo cartoon reading "Love is stronger than hate". Place du Luxembourg in Brussels
  A demonstrator holds up a Charlie Hebdo cartoon reading "Love is stronger than hate". Place du Luxembourg in Brussels
• Tributes to the victims in Place du Luxembourg, Brussels
  Tributes to the victims in Place du Luxembourg, Brussels
• A video clip of the demonstration at 88 Kearny Street, San Francisco
• 
  Tributes to the victims in Toulouse

Reactions

Government

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", called the slain journalists "heroes", and declared a day of national mourning on 8 January.

The Mayor of Paris 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.

Other countries

Statements have also been offered by many international leaders and governments (listed in alphabetical order):

• Algeria – The president Abdelaziz Bouteflika strongly condemned the terrorist attack perpetrated against the Paris offices of the French weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, in a letter of condolence to his French counterpart François Hollande. "At a time when France is going through this tragic ordeal, I would like to extend to you as well as to the families of the victims, on behalf of the Government and the people of Algeria and on my own behalf, our most heartfelt condolences as well as our strong condemnation of the barbaric act that nothing can justify," said the Head of State.
• 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.”
• Azerbaijan – The president Ilham Aliyev sent his condolences to François Hollande, the President of the French Republic emphasizing extreme anger by this horrific event, and strongly supported the resolute struggle against all manifestations of terrorism. Ministry of Foreign affairs also issued a similar statement.
• 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.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina – Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina issue a statement where is said that they believe that it is not only an attack on the editorial staff of the Charlie Hebdo or only to France, but to the entire free and democratic world as well as an attack on freedom of expression.
• Brazil – President Dilma Rousseff expressed outrage and remorse. She said, "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."
• Chile – President Michelle Bachelet sent her condolences to the French people for the attack on Charlie Hebdo.
• China – Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said, "We are deeply shocked at the terrorist attack and strongly condemn it. The Chinese side firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and supports the efforts made by the French side to safeguard domestic security."
• 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".
• Costa Rica – President Luis Guillermo Solís repudiated the "barbarianism" implicit in the attack against the weekly satyrical Charlie Hebdo
• 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."
• Ecuador – The Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning the Charlie Hebdo shooting and offering its condolences to France and to the French people. It also called on the suspects to be captured and judged by the authorities.
• 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." President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi later reiterated Shoukry's statement about the two countries' mutual fight against terrorism, condemning the "terrorist attack" and offering his condolences to Hollande and the families of the victims and the wounded.
• El Salvador – The government of El Salvador condemned "in the strongest terms the attack of today in Paris," expressed the Ministry of Exterior Relations.
• Finland – Both President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Alexander Stubb have condemned the attack.
• 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."
• Greece – Prime Minister Antonis Samaras expressed "on behalf of the Greek people our deep sadness and our revulsion for the terrorist attack" and commented further that "we Greeks stand in solidarity with the relatives of the innocent victims and we partake in the mourning of the French people".
• Guatemala – The Government of Guatemala condemned "energetically" the terrorist attack to the weekly satyrical Charlie Hebdo, expressed the Ministry of Exterior Relations.
• Holy See – 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".
• Honduras – The Government of Honduras, through the Secretary of External Relations, issued a statement condemning the attack.
• Iceland – Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson strongly condemned the attack, calling it a "horrific act" and stating that "our thoughts remain with the victims and their families".
• 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."
• Indonesia – The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has expressed fear that Wednesday's deadly shooting attack on the office of the French magazine, Charlie Hebdo, will harm Muslims around the world and hope the international community will be fair with this incident and not generalize it as part of Islam. Saleh Partaonan Daulay, chairman of the House of Representatives Commission-VIII, noted the shooting attack is worth condemning because the action deviates far from the teachings and values of Islam, and described the attack as criminal and as contrary to the values of humanity and defaming the name of Islam
• 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".
• 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."
• Japan – In a condolence message delivered to French President François Hollande the day following the shootings, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned the attack and underlined the importance of Japan's solidarity with France.
• Kazakhstan – President Nursultan Nazarbayev sent a telegram of condolence to the French President François Hollande. He wrote, "[The] spread of terrorism around the world now became a threat for all nations. As for its part, Kazakhstan condemns any and all forms of terrorism and extremism that pose a threat to the international security." Chairman of the Senate Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also said, "Journalists were killed in the terrorist attack in Paris. This crime can not [sic] be justified. The fight against terrorism is the task of the international community."
• Kosovo – Prime Minister Isa Mustafa expressed his shock regarding the terrorist attack. He stated that the "Government of the Republic of Kosovo strongly condemns this barbaric and cowardly act against the French citizens, police and journalists. In these difficult moments, we express our most sincere condolences, and assure that the people of Kosovo stand along the French people in the fight against terror, and in the defence of the values of freedom."
• Lithuania – President Dalia Grybauskaitė extended condolences to President of France François Hollande over the attack and called it "brutal and unjustifiable act".
• Luxembourg – Speaking to the press, Xavier Bettel, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, said, "I have no words to describe this terrible deed." He condemned the attacks as an act of "unspeakable barbarity" and further stated, "We have rights, duties and freedoms for which we fought. Therefore, it cannot be that we give this up just because a handful of people do not share these values."
• Malaysia – In a statement issued by Foreign Ministry, the government of Malaysia condemned the attack, saying, "Nothing justifies taking innocent lives. Malaysia is united with the families of the victims, the government of France, and the French people." Prime Minister Najib Razak condemned in the strongest terms all acts of violence and voiced his determination to fight extremism with moderation.
• Mexico – Mexico's Secretariat of Foreign Affairs, under José Antonio Meade Kuribreña, condemned the attack and stated that 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. At the Embassy of France in Polanco, Mexico City, several French citizens gathered to carry out a vigil. Those present wrote messages on a book in memory of the victims. French ambassador Maryse Bossière gave a speech to those present.
• 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".
• Netherlands – King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands was "deeply shocked" and gave the French President his sympathy and condolences. On behalf of the Dutch people, he also expressed his support for "the defense of democratic values which are the basis of our societies." Prime minister Mark Rutte was stunned by the attack and also gave the French president his sympathy. "This heinous and cowardly act of terrorism affects us all. Netherlands stands shoulder to shoulder with France. Our thoughts are first going out to everyone who has been affected by this terrible event." Many other government members were shocked and expressed their anger and sadness. On 8 January the mayors of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht called to held demonstrations that evening in the Netherlands. That call has been taken over by other mayors. Many Dutch government members joined and held a speech during the over 100 demonstrations.
• New Zealand – Prime Minister John Key strongly condemned the violent attack, saying, "The targeting of journalists going about their daily work is an attack on the fourth estate and the democratic principles of freedom of speech and expression, which must be strongly condemned."
• Nicaragua – President of Nicaragua Daniel Ortega condemned and expressed his condolences to the government and people of France for the "terrible attack" to the satyrical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
• Pakistan – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement condemning the attack and said, "Pakistan deplores terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We extend our condolences to the government and people of France on the loss of life. We are confident that the international community will continue to stand firm against terrorism and bring the perpetrators of terrorist acts to justice." Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain also sent a letter of condolences to President Hollande.
• Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs released a statement condemning the shooting, saying, "We are appalled by the senseless attacks that took twelve innocent lives and wounded several others in Paris." The agency also said that the Philippines is with France and the rest of the world in denouncing the shooting, which it describes as "blatant disregard for human lives and the fundamental right of expression." The agency also states that it sympathizes with the families of the victims.
• Panama – The government of the Republic expressed its sincere condolences to the people and the government of the French Republic for the attack in central Paris.
• Poland – 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 – President Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Victor Ponta both condemned the attack strongly and sent their condolences to the French people. Iohannis also reiterated Romania's "full commitment to fighting terrorism and extremism of any kind." Iohannis, Ponta and the head of the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) met to discuss about the attack and its implications for Romania's security.
• 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."
• Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic – President Mohamed Abdelaziz expressed in a letter of condolence to his French counterpart deep sorrow over the attack which left many innocent victims, stressing the strong condemnation of the Sahrawi Republic to this terrorist act that panicked all freedom, justice and peace-loving peoples.
• Serbia – Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić offered the 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."
• Singapore – President Tony Tan wrote to French President François Hollande expressing his condolences and sympathies to victims and families. "As France mourns the victims, may the perpetrators be brought to justice swiftly, and may the wounded have a speedy recovery," he wrote. Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday "strongly condemned" the terrorist attack. He wrote, "It is yet another reminder of the threat posed by terrorism to all civilized societies, and that it is totally wrong to invoke religion to justify such savagery."
• South Africa – President Jacob Zuma said, "The South African government joins the international community in condemning the calculated and barbaric terrorist attack on [Wednesday] against journalists and members of the public in Paris, France." He also added "Deliberate attacks against journalists and members of the public contravene international law and constitute a crime against humanity" and that "South Africa stands firmly with the international community by unequivocally condemning all terrorism and will continue to support regional and international efforts to address the scourge of terrorism in all its forms".
• Spain – Prime Minister 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."
• Sri Lanka – President Mahinda Rajapaksa condemned the terrorist attack and offered his condolences to the families of the victims and said, "The world needs to come together to fight all forms of terrorism wherever it happens."
• 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".
• Switzerland – The Swiss government condemned the attack and offered its sincere condolences to the families of the victims on behalf of the Swiss people.
• Syria – The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the attack, saying it showed that serious policies are need to "eliminate the epidemic of terrorism". The source said it had previously warned European nations against supporting terrorist groups in Syria, saying that the plan would backfire. It added that the attack "confirms deficiency of the European policies and its responsibility for the bloodshed in Syria."
• 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.
• Ukraine – President Petro Poroshenko called the attacks "unacceptable" and offered his condolences to the victims and to the people of France. Poroshenko reiterated that Ukraine has zero tolerance for terrorism and that Ukraine will stand in solidarity with France and with the world against terrorism.
• United Arab Emirates - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the heinous terrorist attack at the office of the French weekly Charlie Hebdo in Paris, in which scores of unarmed innocent civilians were killed and injured. In a statement, emphasised the UAE's solidarity with the friendly government and people of France at this critical time and expressed its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations as a phenomenon that targets international security and stability.
• 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." Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said "There can be no excuse, no reason, no explanation. They have killed cartoonists who have done nothing more than draw drawings which they happened to find offensive. At the end of the day, in a free society people have to be free to offend each other. You cannot have freedom unless people are free to offend." Elizabeth II also sent "sincere condolences".
• 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.
• Uruguay – The government of Uruguay strongly repudiated the attack in a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Venezuela – President Nicolas Maduro issued a statement through Twitter condemning terrorism in all its forms, adding, "The government and people of Venezuela repudiate the terrorist attack against France, and we stand by them with all our solidarity and love."
• Vietnam – President Truong Tan Sang and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung sent messages of condolences to their French counterparts Francois Hollande and Manuel Valls, respectively. Meanwhile, at the Foreign Ministry’s regular press conference in Hanoi on January 8, Deputy Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said the attack is "brutal and unacceptable". She also added that "Vietnam condemns terror activities in any form" and "Vietnam believes the instigators will soon be severely punished"

International organisations

• 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."
• Organisation internationale de la Francophonie – Michaelle Jean, the secretary general of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, called the killings a "frontal attack" on freedom of expression.
• International Olympic Committee – International Olympic Committtee president Thomas Bach wrote a letter of support to François Hollande, expressing "shock and grief".
• Organisation of Islamic Cooperation – The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned the attack, saying that it went against Islam's principles and values.
• 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".

Media

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, and later the UK, versions 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.

Some English-language media outlets chose to republish the controversial cartoons on their websites in the hours following the shootings. Prominent examples included Bloomberg News, Huffington Post, The Daily Beast, Gawker, Vox, and Free Beacon. Other news organizations covered the shootings without showing the controversial drawings, such as The New York Times, New York Daily News, CNN, Al-Jazeera America, Associated Press, and The Daily Telegraph. Two websites accused the latter group of self-censorship.

Other media publications such as the Berliner Kurier from Berlin, Germany and Gazeta Wyborcza from Poland reprinted the cartoon the day after the attack. At least three Danish newspapers featured Charlie Hebdo cartoons, and the tabloid B.T. used one on the cover of Muhammad lamenting being loved by "idiots".

However, Egyptian daily Al-Masry Al-Youm featured drawings by young cartoonists signed with "Je suis Charlie" in solidarity with the victims. Al-Masry al-Youm also displayed on their website a slide show of some Charlie Hebdo cartoons, including controversial ones. This was seen by blogger Jonathan Guyer as a "surprising" and maybe "unprecedented" move, due to the pressure Arab artists can be subject to when depicting religious figures in the region.

Muslim reactions

Condemning the attack

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 denouncing the attack, stating 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.

Support for attack

The Guardian reported that "[o]ther Muslims said they would only condemn the Paris attack if France condemned the killings of Muslims worldwide." Anjem Choudary, a British Islamist cleric, wrote an editorial in USA Today in which he claimed justification from the words of Muhammad that those who insult prophets should face death, and claimed that Muhammad should be protected in order to prevent further violence. Saudi-Australian Islamic preacher Junaid Thorne said: "If you want to enjoy 'freedom of speech' with no limits, expect others to exercise 'freedom of action'."

Haji Yakub Qureshi, a powerful Muslim MLA and former Minister from Uttar Pradesh, India has offered a reward of ₹ 0.51 Billions i.e. US$ 8  million to the attackers of Charlie Hebdo shootings. Further he said that there was for no need to initiate legal proceedings in this case. Qureshi had hit the headlines in 2006 after declaring a reward of Rs. 51 crore for anyone who would kill the Danish cartoonist who had created a controversial cartoon of Prophet Mohammed. He had made the offer at a public rally in Meerut. ISIS militant Abu Mussab from Syria praised the massacre and referred to the gunmen who carried out the attack as "lions of Islam", stating, "[They] have avenged our Prophet. These are our lions. It's the first drops [of blood]—more will follow."

Two Islamist newspapers in Turkey ran headlines that were seen by some as justifying the attack. The Yeni Akit newspaper ran an article entitled "Attack on the magazine that provoked Muslims", and Türkiye, a newspaper close to the government, ran an article entitled "Attack on the magazine that insulted our Prophet".

Bill Donohue, president of the U.S. Catholic League, said Charlie Hebdo had a "long and disgusting record" of mocking religious figures and that Charb "didn't understand the role he played in his tragic death. In 2012, when asked why he insults Muslims, he said, 'Muhammad isn't sacred to me.' Had he not been so narcissistic, he may still be alive."

Other

Salman Rushdie, who is also on the 2013 Al-Qaeda most wanted list and received death threats after his novel 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."

Swedish artist Lars Vilks, of the Lars Vilks Muhammad drawings controversy and also on the 2013 Al-Qaeda most wanted list, condemned the attacks and said that the terrorists "got what they wanted. They've scared people. People were scared before, but with this attack fear will grow even larger" and that the attack "expose[s] the world we live in today".

Bill Donohue, president of the U.S. Catholic League, said Charlie Hebdo had a "long and disgusting record" of mocking religious figures and that Charb "didn't understand the role he played in his tragic death. In 2012, when asked why he insults Muslims, he said, 'Muhammad isn't sacred to me.' Had he not been so narcissistic, he may still be alive."

Some Twitter accounts supported the gunmen in the Paris terror attack and celebrated on Twitter.

See also

• Media related to Charlie Hebdo shooting at Wikimedia Commons
• Censorship in Islamic societies
• List of Islamic terrorist attacks
• List of massacres in France
• Theo van Gogh (film director)