Gunmen have attacked the Paris office of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. Current reports suggest that up to 12 people have been killed.
One eyewitness told French TV channel Itele: ‘Two black-hooded men entered the building with Kalashnikovs. A few minutes later we heard lots of shots.’
Ils ont tiré à deux reprises les balles ont traversé la porte et la fenêtre pic.twitter.com/Jhgi4MBlnp
— yve cresson (@yvecresson) January 7, 2015
The magazine has courted controversy in the past by publishing cartoons of the prophet Muhammad. An hour ago the magazine’s Twitter account posted a cartoon of the Islamic State militant group leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The attackers reportedly escaped in two vehicles. A journalist from Le Monde tweeted this picture which allegedly shows the two gunmen facing a police car:
Les tireurs de #ChalieHebdo face à une voiture de police. Ils ont fait feu, les policiers ont répliqué puis reculé pic.twitter.com/Ld1sxkRLvW — Elise Barthet (@EliseBarthet) January 7, 2015
David Cameron and Philip Hammond have both tweeted about the attack:
The murders in Paris are sickening. We stand with the French people in the fight against terror and defending the freedom of the press. — David Cameron (@David_Cameron) January 7, 2015
Appalled to hear news of apparent terrorist attack in Paris. My thoughts are with the family and friends of those killed. — Philip Hammond (@PHammondMP) January 7, 2015
Ed Miliband has opened PMQs with a statement about the shooting:
Ed Miliband opens #PMQs expressing his “horror and outrage” at #CharlieHebdo attack. “We stand in solidarity with the people of France”
— Sebastian Payne (@SebastianEPayne) January 7, 2015
David Cameron has now told the commons:
‘I’m sure the whole House will want to join me in condemning the barbaric attack on an office of a magazine in Paris, in which it is report ten or more people may have been killed.
‘While details are still unclear, I’m know that this House and this country stands united with the French people in opposition to all forms of terrorism, and we stand squarely for free speech and democracy. These people will never take us off those values.’
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