Twelve people are dead and 10 others are injured as masked gunmen stormed the office of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and executed 10 staff who were in an editorial meeting.
The tragic incident is Paris’ worst terrorist attack in 50 years.
The dead included eight journalists, two police officers, a guest of the magazine and a building maintenance worker, NBC News reports.
These are the five victims of the devastating attack who have been named by French media.
For more details about the attack on Charlie Hebdo as they emerge, click here.
Jean ‘Cabu’ Cabut
Jean Cabut, a cartoonist at the magazine.
He was behind a February 2006 front page of Charlie Hebdo depicting Muhammad, following the controversy after Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published sketches of the Muslim prophet. Then-President Jacques Chirac warned against “overt provocations” of other religions.
Stéphane Charbonnier (“Charb”)
Stéphane Charbonnier is the editor in chief of Charlie Hebdo, the director of publications at Charlie Hebdo from 2009, and also a cartoonist. He had a regular slot in the magazine called “Charb n’aime pas les gens,” or “Charb doesn’t like people”.
Bernard ‘Tignous’ Verlhac
Bernard Verlhac, cartoonist. His published works included “Pandas in the Mist” and “Five Years of Sarkozy”.
Georges Wolinski
Georges Wolinski, an 80-year-old cartoonist who contributed to the magazine and also editor-in-chief of the monthly magazine Charlie Mensuel.
Bernard Maris
Maris was a Bank of France economist, writer and journalist who was also a shareholder in Charlie Hebdo magazine.
“This is a barbaric attack on the freedom of the press,” Bank of France governor Christian Noyer said today. “Bernard Maris was a cultured, kind and very tolerant man. He will be much missed.”
Police officers
Two other victims unnamed are said to be police officers.
Distressing footage, which has been posted on Facebook and widely distributed by social media, appears to show one of the gunmen shooting a wounded policeman in the head as he lay screaming in pain on the pavement.
In the video the officer is seen turning his head to the approaching gunman and holding up an open hand immediately before being brutally shot dead.
We have chosen not to show this footage of the officer’s execution.
Some of the social media responses to this horrifying attack:
For more details about the attack, click here.
For more details about the identified of the gunmen, click here.
Top Comments
Mm, I posted this morning but it hasn't gone on the page. Please, is it necessary to describe these brutal murder of the poor police officer? I applaud you in not linking to the footage, but surely you can see the humanity in choosing to also not print such a graphic description?
I totally agree - while the whole incident makes me feel sick, that was particularly grating...
Yes it is necessary, it provides a clearer picture of these masked cowards, the fact they are prepared to execute a wounded man who posed no threat and was not part of the group they initially targeted shows the disdain they have for people with different beliefs.