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Paris magazine office attacked - Charlie Hebdo (1 Viewer)

jamny

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Paris (AFP) - At least 10 people were killed when gunmen armed with Kalashnikovs and a rocket-launcher opened fire in the offices of French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo on Wednesday, Paris prosecutors said.


"At this stage" ten people are dead, said the prosecutor's office, without detailing how many had been injured.

Deputy Mayor of Paris Bruno Julliard earlier said "six people are seriously injured", including a policeman. It was not clear whether these now figured among the dead.

French President Francois Hollande was on his way to the scene of the shooting and called an emergency cabinet meeting, the presidency said.

A source close to the investigation said two men "armed with a Kalashnikov and a rocket-launcher" stormed the building in central Paris and "fire was exchanged with security forces."

The source said gunmen had hijacked a car and knocked over a pedestrian as he sped away.

The publication's cartoonist Renaud Luzier earlier told AFP there were "casualties" after the incident.

The satirical magazine gained notoriety in February 2006 when it reprinted cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that had originally appeared in Danish daily Jyllands-Posten, causing fury across the Muslim world.

Its offices were fire-bombed in November 2011 when it published a cartoon of Mohammed and under the title "Charia Hebdo".

Despite being taken to court under anti-racism laws, the magazine continued to publish controversial cartoons of the Muslim prophet.

In September 2012 Charlie Hebdo published cartoons of a naked Mohammed as violent protests were taking place in several countries over a low-budget film, titled "Innocence of Muslims", which was made in the United States and insulted the prophet.

French schools, consulates and cultural centres in 20 Muslim countries were briefly closed along with embassies for fear of retaliatory attacks.

Editor Stephane Charbonnier has received death threats and lives under police protection

 
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Hebdo did this in defense of the film, "Innocence of the Muslims".

- 9/19/12 AP, Yahoo.

PARIS (Reuters) - A French magazine ridiculed the Prophet Mohammad on Wednesday by portraying him naked in cartoons, threatening to fuel the anger of Muslims around the world who are already incensed by a film depiction of him as a lecherous fool.

The drawings in satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo risked exacerbating a crisis that has seen the storming of U.S. and other Western embassies, the killing of the U.S. ambassador to Libya and a deadly suicide bombing in Afghanistan.

Riot police were deployed to protect the magazine's Paris offices after it hit the news stands with a cover showing an Orthodox Jew pushing the turbaned figure of Mohammad in a wheelchair.

On the inside pages, several caricatures of the Prophet showed him naked. One, entitled "Mohammad: a star is born", depicted a bearded figure crouching over to display his buttocks and genitals.

The French government, which had urged the weekly not to print the cartoons, said it was temporarily shutting down premises including embassies and schools in 20 countries on Friday, when protests sometimes break out after Muslim prayers.

Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby called the drawings provocative and outrageous but said those who were offended by them should "use peaceful means to express their firm rejection".

Tunisia's governing Islamist party, Ennahda, condemned the cartoons as an act of "aggression" against Mohammad. It urged Muslims, in responding to it, to avoid falling into a trap designed by "suspicious parties to derail the Arab Spring and turn it into a conflict with the West".

In Lebanon, Salafist cleric Sheikh Nabil Rahim said the incident would raise tensions that were already dangerously high.

"We will try to keep things managed and peaceful, but these things easily get out of hand. I fear there could more targeting of foreigners, and this is why I wish they would not persist with these provocations," he said.

In the northern Paris suburb of Sarcelles, one person was slightly hurt when two masked men threw a small explosive device through the window of a kosher Jewish supermarket, a police source said, adding it was too early to link the incident to the cartoons.

DEADLY PROTESTS

The posting of a short film on YouTube last week that mocked Mohammad as a womanizing buffoon has sparked protests in many countries, some of them deadly.

...U.S. and other foreign embassies were stormed in cities in Asia, Africa and the Middle East by furious Muslims. Afghan militants said a suicide bombing that killed 12 people on Tuesday was carried out in retaliation for the film, which was made with private funds in California.

At least four people died last week after hundreds of protesters forced their way into the U.S. embassy in Tunis, ransacking it and burning some of its annexes.

The furor has emerged as an issue in the U.S. presidential election campaign and sparked a wider international debate over free speech, religion and the right to offend. Many Muslims consider any representation of Allah or the Prophet Mohammad blasphemous.

"We have the impression that it's officially allowed for Charlie Hebdo to attack the Catholic far-right but we cannot poke fun at fundamental Islamists," said editor Stephane Charbonnier, who drew the front-page cartoon.

"It shows the climate - everyone is driven by fear, and that is exactly what this small handful of extremists who do not represent anyone want - to make everyone afraid, to shut us all in a cave," he told Reuters.

One cartoon, in reference to the scandal over a French magazine's decision to publish topless photos of the wife of Britain's Prince William, showed a topless, bearded character with the caption: "Riots in Arab countries after photos of Mrs. Mohammad are published."

BEEFED UP SECURITY

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius criticized the magazine's move as a provocation.

"We saw what happened last week in Libya and in other countries such as Afghanistan," Fabius told a regular government news conference. "We have to call on all to behave responsibly."

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said France was closing its embassies, consulates, cultural centers and schools in 20 countries on Friday as a "precautionary measure".

In Egypt, Essam Erian, acting head of the powerful Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, told Reuters: "We reject and condemn the French cartoons that dishonor the Prophet and we condemn any action that defames the sacred according to people's beliefs."

Charlie Hebdo has a long reputation for being provocative. Its Paris offices were firebombed last November after it published a mocking caricature of Mohammad, and Charbonnier has been under police guard ever since.

Speaking outside his offices in an eastern neighborhood with many residents of North African origin, Charbonnier said he had not received any threats over the latest cartoons. In a message on its Twitter account, Charlie Hebdo said its website had been hacked, but referred readers to a blog it also uses.

The French Muslim Council, the main body representing Muslims in France, accused Charlie Hebdo of firing up anti-Muslim sentiment at a sensitive time.

"The CFCM is profoundly worried by this irresponsible act, which in such a fraught climate risks further exacerbating tensions and sparking damaging reactions," it said.

Richard Prasquier, head of the body representing France's Jewish community - Europe's largest - said religious censorship was wrong but added: "Publishing Mohammad cartoons at this time, in the name of freedom, is irresponsible".

In 2005, Danish cartoons of the Prophet sparked a wave of violent protests across the Muslim world that killed at least 50 people.

The decision to temporarily close some embassies comes at a time when France is already on heightened alert over possible attacks by al Qaeda on French interests in West Africa.

A diplomatic source said this week Paris recently foiled attacks on economic and diplomatic targets and had credible evidence that more were planned. "Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is a direct and immediate threat," the source said.

Separately, French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said the authorities had rejected a request to hold a march against the Mohammad film in Paris.

Social media had circulated calls for a protest on Saturday against the film, after police arrested about 150 people who tried to take part in an unauthorized protest near the U.S. Embassy in Paris last week.
 
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This is absolutely awful.

I hope and suspect that this will backfire on these fundamentalist nutjobs and the controversial images are reprinted over and over, reaching an audience thousands of times larger than would have been the case prior to the attack.

 
This is absolutely awful.

I hope and suspect that this will backfire on these fundamentalist nutjobs and the controversial images are reprinted over and over, reaching an audience thousands of times larger than would have been the case prior to the attack.
Sadly, it will just mean more killing. There's no fix for this bull####.

 
This is absolutely awful.

I hope and suspect that this will backfire on these fundamentalist nutjobs and the controversial images are reprinted over and over, reaching an audience thousands of times larger than would have been the case prior to the attack.
Sadly, it will just mean more killing. There's no fix for this bull####.
Maybe. God, that's depressing. For some reason I feel like the US media would be insulated from these sorts of attacks. Maybe it's the ocean between us and the middle east, or maybe it's my own naivete.

 
This may sound awful but as Americans, be happy our so-called "problem" immigrants are pretty ####### cool. Europe has a real ####show on their hands.

 
1. in before "religion of peace".

2. today I learned that a "Kalashnikov" is a slang term for an AK-47.
Its not a slang term. Kalashnikov was the inventor of the rifle. The K in AK-47, AK-74 etc. is for Kalashnikov. Seems it would be easier to say AK-47 than Kalashnikov. But saying AK-47 may be factually incorrect in describing the rifles the gunmen actually used as they could be other derivatives of the AK series.

Terrible tragedy. I pray for peace for the families of those killed and for the speedy apprehension of the gunmen.

 
Well they certainly have a long memory
I heard on BBC this morning that the magazine was going to publish a spoof on the ISIS leader today. They speculated that it wasn't related, that these attacks required planning, but I don't see how much planning it would take.

 
This may sound awful but as Americans, be happy our so-called "problem" immigrants are pretty ####### cool. Europe has a real ####show on their hands.
:goodposting:

For whatever reason, the US generally does a better job assimilating its immigrants than many European countries. That's a pretty broad generalization of course, and we have our immigration issues, but they're dwarfed by those faced by Europe.

 
Today I stand in solidarity with our French friends and neighbors. I do note that this may be racist as the attackers may also be French and I sort of presume that by their religion, politics, or objectives they are not French, not really French. I think of France as enlightened. I think of it as a seat of liberty and artistic expression. I do not think of it as oppressive of thought. These attackers may turn out to be French in name, but not in heart, soul, and mind. I am comfortable with my prejudice in this case.

 
This is absolutely awful.

I hope and suspect that this will backfire on these fundamentalist nutjobs and the controversial images are reprinted over and over, reaching an audience thousands of times larger than would have been the case prior to the attack.
I'm sure they'll be reprinted but not to sure about the "backfire " will be what you say. People are just going to dig in more.

 
This is absolutely awful.

I hope and suspect that this will backfire on these fundamentalist nutjobs and the controversial images are reprinted over and over, reaching an audience thousands of times larger than would have been the case prior to the attack.
If the terrorists' intent is to get media outlets to think twice before printing cartoons critical of the Prophet Muhammad, then I suspect that the terrorists plan will work not backfire. Very few people are willing to potentially lose their lives over a cartoon or critical statement even if they firmly believe in free speech and the message they're conveying. Sadly, violence often works to silence.
It is sad, but I agree 100%, these editors will think twice before printing any of this kinda stuff.

 
Not trying at all to make fun of this, but I see this as The Interview, but unlike the "light sabre wavering" of North Korea which can be classified as empty threats coming from a nuts but isolated nation/leader, this is the case where the party "harmed by free speech" does come in with machine guns and murders at will.

Really sad, thoughts & prayers to all harmed and I hope the French stay strong.

 
This is absolutely awful.

I hope and suspect that this will backfire on these fundamentalist nutjobs and the controversial images are reprinted over and over, reaching an audience thousands of times larger than would have been the case prior to the attack.
If the terrorists' intent is to get media outlets to think twice before printing cartoons critical of the Prophet Muhammad, then I suspect that the terrorists plan will work not backfire. Very few people are willing to potentially lose their lives over a cartoon or critical statement even if they firmly believe in free speech and the message they're conveying. Sadly, violence often works to silence.
I've seen the images from the magazine reprinted a bunch of times already this morning. I would not be surprised if it continues. The only possible way to "win" this is a response so overwhelming that any further retaliation wouldn't even make a dent. I doubt it happens but it would be amazing if it did.

 
Today I stand in solidarity with our French friends and neighbors. I do note that this may be racist as the attackers may also be French and I sort of presume that by their religion, politics, or objectives they are not French, not really French. I think of France as enlightened. I think of it as a seat of liberty and artistic expression. I do not think of it as oppressive of thought. These attackers may turn out to be French in name, but not in heart, soul, and mind. I am comfortable with my prejudice in this case.
This is the same country that has made it illegal for people to wear a hijabs, niqabs, and burqas for religious reasons.

 
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This may sound awful but as Americans, be happy our so-called "problem" immigrants are pretty ####### cool. Europe has a real ####show on their hands.
:goodposting:

For whatever reason, the US generally does a better job assimilating its immigrants than many European countries. That's a pretty broad generalization of course, and we have our immigration issues, but they're dwarfed by those faced by Europe.
Maybe the reason is because we are almost all immigrants? You know, except for the people we brought here against their will. :mellow:

 
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The EU is already starting to crack down on immigration. Tragedies like this will only lead to the enhancement of those efforts.

 
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Wonder if attacks like this could cause ultranationalism to surge.
Common sense is already currently surging in Germany. I imagine that you're correct and this incident will cause common sense to surge in France and other areas of Europe.

http://news.yahoo.com/german-anti-muslim-protesters-rally-despite-merkel-plea-221639945.html
It's a shame you consider ultranationalism to be common sense.
It's a shame that you consider common sense measures regarding immigration, assimilation, and cultural identity as ultranationalism.
Oh boy.

I hope you're not going there.

Basic: Opposing islamist ideology, ok. Attacking muslims and calling for social restrictions and deportations, not ok.

Right?

 
Today I stand in solidarity with our French friends and neighbors. I do note that this may be racist as the attackers may also be French and I sort of presume that by their religion, politics, or objectives they are not French, not really French. I think of France as enlightened. I think of it as a seat of liberty and artistic expression. I do not think of it as oppressive of thought. These attackers may turn out to be French in name, but not in heart, soul, and mind. I am comfortable with my prejudice in this case.
This is the same country that has made it illegal for people to wear a hijabs, niqabs, and burqas for religious reasons.
and crosses, yarmulkes etc.

 
Wonder if attacks like this could cause ultranationalism to surge.
Common sense is already currently surging in Germany. I imagine that you're correct and this incident will cause common sense to surge in France and other areas of Europe.

http://news.yahoo.com/german-anti-muslim-protesters-rally-despite-merkel-plea-221639945.html
It's a shame you consider ultranationalism to be common sense.
It's a shame that you consider common sense measures regarding immigration, assimilation, and cultural identity as ultranationalism. Read the comments on that mainstream Yahoo article. Most people agree with me and are growing increasingly frustrated with their legitimate arguments being dismissed as ultrationalist, racist, nativist, xenophoboic, fill in the slur to stop debate.
Do you know know for a fact that these perpetrators were immigrants?

 

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