The “Three Days of Terror” in Paris began with the killing of 12 Charlie Hebdo cartoonists and the injury of four others on Jan. 7, ultimately brought attention to the underlying tension that has existed under the radar in France for years. On Jan. 7, Said and Cherif Kouachi entered and attacked the Charlie Hebdo newsroom and set an open fire. Among those killed were publisher Stéphane Charbonnier and his police bodyguard. This was not the first attack on the office; the company was firebombed in 2011 for their trademark caricatures, which openly mocked the Muslim faith. Increasingly provocative cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad angered the Muslim community.
Said was suspected of fighting for al-Qaida in Yemen during the height of its offense. It has been brought to the attention of officials that the network of extremists is much farther reaching than originally thought. The brothers were killed on Jan. 9 by police in a building near Charles de Gaulle airport outside Paris, where they were in hiding
One of the three terrorists is Amedy Coulibaly, a friend of the brothers and a fellow conspirator. Coulibaly is responsible for the death of a policewoman in a Parisian suburb on the day following the Hebdo attack. On Jan. 9, Coulibaly opened fire at a kosher market and took nineteen hostages in exchange for the freedom of the Kouachi brothers. Of the 19 hostages, four were killed. Among the nineteen hostages, four were killed. Fortunately, a Muslim man named Lassana Bathily saved 6 hostages by rushing them into a freezer. This in turn gave the hostages the opportunity to call authorities. His efforts, along with that of Muslim police officer Ahmed Merabet, who was killed during the assault on Charlie Hebdo, prove that the extremism that is shown by Muslim radicals is extremely rare. The backlash against France’s Muslim community is unwarranted.
Connections between the two brothers and Coulibaly have become clear. Their conspiracy started when Cherif and Coulibaly met in prison. It is possible that other conspirators may still occupy Paris. All three involved have been linked to previous terrorist activities, had exchanged about 500 phone calls prior to these events. The two brothers had lain low long enough to not be considered a threat. Whether or not their disassociation from radical Islam and sudden return was intentional is up for debate.
Over the three days, the body count totaled up to 20 people. This number includes the three terrorists. Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula said the assault on Jan. 7 at the newspaper office was planned, but no further statement has been given regarding the attack in the kosher market and the surrounding area.
Prime Minister Manuel Valls made the following comments in response to these events: “Journalists were killed because they defended freedom. Policemen were killed because they were protecting you. Jews were killed because they were Jewish. The indignation must be absolute and total—not for three days only, but permanently.”
On Jan. 11, more than one million people and 40 government leaders rallied against the attacks. This was the largest gathering against Islamic extremism since 9/11. A record 1.6 million participated in the demonstration, waving the national flag and black and white signs that read “Je Suis Charlie” (I am Charlie) and, “Charlie est Grand” (Charlie is Great). In addition, at a separate rally in Paris, supporters held up pens as a sign of mourning for those killed as well as a sign of their support for free speech. Separate marches also took place in Toulouse and Rennes to honor the victims.
Police security presence has tightened in Parisian synagogues, mosques, schools and other sites. Five people are currently in police custody in connection with the attacks, and family members of the attackers have been given preliminary charges. Coulibaly’s girlfriend is still at large. It has been reported that she has fled the country.
Counterterrorism spending in France now totals $490 million dollars, and new weapons are being obtained. Additionally, 2,600 new officers will be hired over the next three years, 1,100 of whom will specifically work for intelligence services. Of the 1,200 French citizens who are known to be associated with jihad (Islamic campaign against nonbelievers), 10 have gone to Syria or Iraq.
Obama has been criticized for not attending the rally in Paris on Jan. 11, but has expressed his condolences and offered aid to France as it recovers from this tragedy. •
