After a devastating attack that left at least 12 dead at the headquarters of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris, people around the world have united in solidarity with the victims. Thousands have tweeted “I am Charlie” in French.
In France’s deadliest terror attack in at least 20 years, masked gunmen stormed the magazine’s offices Tuesday afternoon armed with Kalashnikovs. Twelve people were killed, including chief editor and cartoonist Charb. Five others were seriously injured. Two of those killed by the seemingly highly trained assailants were policemen.
Thousands of supporters have gathered at Place de la Republique in a show of support for the victims of the shootings.
Political cartoonists and satirists have also been tweeting their support and condolences.
Can't sleep tonight, thoughts with my French cartooning colleagues, their families and loved ones #CharlieHebdopic.twitter.com/LqIMRCHPgK
— David Pope (@davpope) January 7, 2015
The American embassy in France changed its Twitter profile photo to a “Je Suis Charlie” image.
. @USEmbassyFrance changes Twitter pic to #JeSuisCharlie#CharlieHebdopic.twitter.com/nCO0bEygIx
— Claire Phipps (@Claire_Phipps) January 7, 2015
Four of France’s most renowned cartoonists have lost their lives in the attack. Stephane ‘Charb’ Charbonnier, Georges Wolinski, Bernard 'Tignous' Verlhac, and Jean ‘Cabu’ Cabut were among those killed.
READ MORE: Charlie Hebdo attack: Chief editor Charb, cartoonists Cabu, Wolinski, Tignous killed
In an outpouring of support from across the world, #JeSuisCharlie – “I am Charlie” – amassed 250,000 tweets in just four hours.
Cartoonists across the globe have begun drawing homages to the victims and posting them to Twitter.
#CharlieHebdopic.twitter.com/15O4YC2KWg
— Ruben L. Oppenheimer (@RLOppenheimer) January 7, 2015
The little weapon! #CharlieHebdo#cartoonpic.twitter.com/VFFZD2f8Rz
— Satish Acharya (@satishacharya) January 7, 2015
I am devastated by what just happened in France. #CharlieHebdopic.twitter.com/IxEbScqYFh
— jean jullien (@jean_jullien) January 7, 2015
De tout coeur avec Charlie Hebdo. pic.twitter.com/8KwTipn3Wp
— PLANTU (@plantu) January 7, 2015
Writer Salman Rushdie has also come out against the attack and the dangers of religious extremism.
“This religious totalitarianism has caused a deadly mutation in the heart of Islam and we see the tragic consequences in Paris today,” he wrote in a statement. “I stand with Charlie Hebdo, as we all must, to defend the art of satire, which has always been a force for liberty and against tyranny, dishonesty and stupidity.”
.#JeSuisCharliehttp://t.co/hZ6n83A0P5
— Salman Rushdie (@SalmanRushdie) January 7, 2015
French paper Le Figaro held a minute of silence to pay respect to the victims.
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Фото опубликовано Alina Grebneva (@aligatorsha) Янв 1, 2015 at 9:33 PST
In Moscow, people paying their condolences have been leaving flowers, candles, and cartoons at the French Embassy.
Acclaimed Russian illustrator Viktor Melamed has also paid homage to the victims with stylized portraits of the four slain satirists.
Charlie Hebdo had repeatedly published a controversial series of cartoons satirizing extremism, which were deemed offensive by many Muslims. The magazine faced frequent threats from Islamist radicals and had reportedly increased security in recent weeks.
The suspected gunmen are still on the loose, and Paris remains in a state of high alert.