France and the World Begin to Mourn for the 12 Lost in "Je Suis Charlie" Attack

By Sabrina Kennelly on January 9, 2015

Tribute produced by Evan Bartlett

Yesterday, Paris France witnessed  an event President Hollande called an act of “extreme barbarity.” Three gunmen attacked the offices of French magazine Charlie Hebdo yesterday morning, killing 12 people.

According to Yahoo! News the 12 victims included publication director Stephane “Charb” Charbonnier; cartoonist Georges  Wolinski; contributor Bernard “Tignous” Verlhac and Jean Cabut; political caricaturist Philippe Honore; author Bernard Maric (Uncle Bernard); founder of Carnet de Voyage Michel Renaud; psychiatrist Elsa Cayat; copy editor Mustapha Ourrad Frederic Boisseau; and police officers Ahmed Merabet and Franck Brinsolaro.

Brothers Cherif Kouachi and his brother Said Kouachi are said to have a connection with yesterday’s horrific terrorist attack. AFP have warned the public that the were “likely armed and dangerous” and have put out a warrant for their arrest.

According to BBC a third man, Hamyd Mourad, surrendered to police at 23:00 local time ”after seeing his name circulating on social media.”

“He has been arrested and taken into custody,” another source told the agency.  Minutes after his surrender a hashtag called #MouradHamydInnocent began trending in France saying that the 18-year-old Mourad was in class the time of the attack.

Hollande put out in a statement that the attackers will have “severe” consequences for their attack. The President has also issued that today be a national day of mourning for the 12 victims.

“Liberty will always be stronger than barbarism,” Hollande said. “We will win because we have all the capacity to believe in our destiny.”

Group gathered around last night in Paris. AP Photo/Thibault Camus

Since yesterday morning’s horrific attack the hashtag #JeSuisCharlie has been tweeted around the globe. According to Twitter, there have been over 2.1 million tweets joining in mourning for the 12 victims. Mourners also joined around Europe last night with signs of the hashtag and cartoons produced by the victims to show the gunmen that they are not afraid.

According to Yahoo! News, displays mourning the loss of the 12 were set up last night in Berlin, London, and around France in solidarity. Cartoonists around the world have also joined in solidarity with Europe expressing their sympathy in the most poignant way possible: through the expression of art.

“If you think violence can stop artistic expression and freedom of speech, you just go it all wrong. #JeSuisCharlie,” Karl Camilleri (@Makhami) said on Twitter.

                                                                 A cartoon from Ruben L on yesterday’s attack comparing it to 9/11

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