Hollande says Paris shooting a ‘terrorist attack’

Gunmen are on the run after attacking the offices of Charlie Hebdo, a controversial French newspaper.

Gunmen face off with police officers near the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris on January 7, 2015. Anne Gelbard / AFP Photo

PARIS // Paris was put on the highest terrorist alert after at least 12 people were killed in shootings at the offices of the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in eastern Paris.

More than a dozen other people have been injured, police said.

Those killed included three cartoonists and the chief editor who had been holding a morning meeting, officials said.

Police said witnesses heard the attackers shout “we have avenged the prophet” and “Allahu akbar” .

President Francois Hollande immediately rushed to the scene of what he called “an act of exceptional barbarism”.

“France is in a state of shock after this terrorist attack,” Mr Hollande said. “An act of exceptional barbarity has been perpetrated against a newspaper, against liberty of expression, against journalists”

The attackers are on the run, he said. He said all potential terrorist targets have been put under the highest protection, adding that several possible attacks have been foiled in recent weeks.

Most of the victims were part of the magazine’s newsroom, Matthieu Lamarre, a spokesman for the Paris Mayor’s office, said. At least one of the dead is a police officer, he said.

Witnesses were cited by Europe 1 radio and Agence France Presse as saying that two hooded people entered the offices of the magazine, shooting at random. Several journalists fled to the roof, I-tele television reported.

Charlie Hebdo’s cover this week is on “Submission,” a book by Michel Houellebecq released on Wednesday, which is sparking controversy with its depiction of a fictional France of the future led by an Islamic party and a Muslim president who bans women from the workplace.

Also today, the magazine on its Twitter account posted a cartoon depicting ISIL Chief Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi.

Charlie Hebdo’s offices were firebombed in November 2011 after it published a special edition featuring the Prophet Mohammed as a “guest editor.” The fire caused no injuries.

Condemnation

The Arab League and Egypt’s Al Azhar, both condemned the attack.

“Arab League chief Nabil Al Arabi strongly condemns the terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo newspaper in Paris,” the League said after gunmen stormed the weekly’s offices killing at least 12 people and chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’.”

Al Azhar condemned the “criminal attack,” saying that “Islam denounces any violence”, in remarks carried by Egypt’s state news agency MENA.

In a separate statement to AFP, Al-Azhar senior official Abbas Shoman said the institution “does not approve of using violence even if it was in response to an offence committed against sacred Muslim sentiments”.

World leaders also condemned the attack.

US president Barack Obama on Wednesday offered US assistance to pursue the terrorists responsible for the “horrific shooting”.

In a statement, Mr Obama condemned the shooting and offered thoughts and prayers for the people of France, which he called “America’s oldest ally.”

“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,” Mr Obama said.

Britain’s premier, David Cameron, and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, echoed the US president’s statement.

“This abominable act is not only an attack on the lives of French citizens and their security,” Mrs Merkel said in a statement. “It is also an attack on freedom of speech and the press, core elements of our free democratic culture. In no way can this be justified.”

Mr Cameron wrote: “The murders in Paris are sickening. We stand with the French people in the fight against terror and defending the freedom of the press.”

* Bloomberg News, Associated Press, Reuters