French
President Francois Hollande said the shooting at the Paris headquarters
of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo Wednesday was “undoubtedly a
terror attack” as the city raised its anti-terror alert to the maximum
level. Hollande called the attack “an exceptional act of barbarism” and
also said that several terrorist attacks were thwarted in France in
recent weeks, according to the BBC.
At least 12 people were killed and five critically injured
in the attack on the magazine’s office. Paris police spokesman Rocco
Contento confirmed to French media that nine members of Charlie Hebdo’s
staff were killed in the attack, as well as two police officers, reported the Guardian.
The assault on the office happened late in the morning local time after
masked gunmen entered th
e building and began shooting with automatic
weapons. Some reports suggest that up to 50 shots were fired by gunmen.
Police sources said that the attackers are still at large.
The satirical magazine gained international attention in
2012 after it published cartoons of the prophet Mohammed. The uproar
resulting from the controversial publication forced France to
temporarily close its embassies and schools in more than 20 countries
over fears of violent reprisals, according to NBC.
Its offices were also the target of a firebomb attack in 2011 after the
magazine published a caricature of Mohammed on its cover.
"Nobody in France should think that they can behave against
the principle of the Republic and harm the spirit of the Republic,
embodied by a newspaper," said Hollande, who visited the scene of the
attack Wednesday. "Today I am thinking about the victims - 11 are dead,
four are fighting for their lives. We should do whatever we can to find
those responsible and to call for national unity."
France has reinforced security at houses of worship,
stores, media offices and transportation in the wake of the attack,
reported the AP.
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