The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joined the chorus of widespread condemnation of the shooting that has taken place today at the offices of the French satirical weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris, leaving at least five people dead, including the title's editor, Stephane Charbonnier.
According to the latest media reports, Charlie Hebdo’s director Stéphane Charbonnier (Charb), Cabu (Jean Cabut), Wolinski (Georges Wolinski), Tignous (Bernard Verlhac) and French economist and Charlie Hebdo's contributor Bernard Maris are among the twelve people who lost their lives in the attack by at least two armed hooded gunmen who stormed the magazine's offices at around 11.30am.
The gunmen also shot dead contributor and Elsa Cayat, cartoonist Philippe Honoré, editor Mustapha Ourrad, protection officer Franck Brinsolaro and office Fréderic Boisseau.
Stéphane Charbonnier had previously received death threats following the publication of cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed. He was living under police protection and one of the body guards was believed to be among the dead during the Paris attack.
The gunmen escaped in a getaway car driven by an accomplice which they ditched and stole another one, triggering a massive police manhunt across Paris. The news of the attack was greeted with shock and large rallies were held across France and other European countries to show solidarity with the victims and in defence of press freedom.
In Brussels, over 200 journalists braved the pouring rain to attend a solidarity event organised by the IFJ and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) at the International Press Centre in Residence Palace where a minute of silence was observed in memory of the victims. French affiliates, SNJ, SNJ-CGT et CFDT-Journalistes , are also organising a demonstration in Paris.
In the meanwhile, reactions have been coming in from IFJ affiliates around the world condemning the attack and supporting Charlie Hebdo.