Terror Attack on Paris Newspaper Leaves 12 Dead Dozens Injured

A devastating terror attack on a newspaper in Paris has left left twelve people dead today, including prominent satirical cartoonists Jean Cabut (known as Cabut) and Stéphane Charbonnier (known as Charb). Numerous writers and editors were also killed in the attack, as well as two police officers, reports the New York Times. Besides the people killed, at least another 20 have been wounded. Four or five of those people have sustained life-threatening injuries.

According to the report, an eyewitness stated that three men entered the newspaper building which housed the weekly satirical publication Charlie Hebdo, a well-known French paper. However, police said that they believe there were only two gunmen.

The men opened fire in the lobby of the building and seemed to be shooting at random. After the rampage was over, they escaped in a car and are currently on the loose. Many locations in Paris are on lock down as authorities search for the attackers.

French President François Hollande has stated that the attack has been classified as terrorism, and it is suspected that radical Muslims carried out the killings. There have been reports that, during the rampage, the gunmen were shouting that Mohammed was avenged. One of the men can be seen on video that was shot inside the building, shouting “Allah” and waving his arms around. The men also shouted “We have killed Charlie Hebdo. We have avenged the Prophet Mohammad,” and “Tell the media that it is al Qaeda in Yemen.”

They were likely referring to the nature of Charlie Hebdo, which has often lambasted Islam and the Prophet Mohammed with cartoons and satirical editorials. Earlier today, the front page of the newspaper contained a cartoon depicting a novelist whose latest fiction book explores a future in which Muslims rule France and have imposed Sharia law. The cartoon shows a caricature of novelist, Michel Houellebecq, saying “In 2022, I will do Ramadan.”

Angela Merkel of Germany wrote to President Hollande expressing her condolences on the attack and remarking that the killings were an attempt to thwart free speech:

This horrible act is not only an attack on the lives of French citizens and the domestic security of France. It also stands as an attack on the freedom of expression and the press, a core element of our free, democratic culture that can in no way be justified.

This is the first major terror attack in Paris since the 1990s. Diplomats from around the world have condemned the attacks and called for all journalists to “stand together” to show the terrorists that they cannot silence the press.