Fourteen people go on trial for Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack – TheLiberal.ie – Our News, Your Views

Fourteen people go on trial for Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack




Image source: BBC

Fourteen people are on trial for their involvement in the attack on satirical French newspaper Charlie Hebdo five years ago, the BBC reports.

In January 2015 two radical Islamists carried out a brutal massacre on Charlie Hebdo’s offices in Paris, killing 12 in and around the building. A third gunman connected to the original attack killed a policeman and four shoppers at a Jewish supermarket shortly after, bringing the total death count to 17.

Among the dead were some of France’s most popular political cartoonists, who had spent decades at the popular publication satirising all religions and political groups. Prior to the attack, Charlie Hebdo had provoked fury from parts of the Muslim community for its cartoon depictions of the prophet Muhammad.

As 14 accomplices go on trial, mostly in Paris but three in absentia, the newspaper bravely decided to reprint the cartoons that sparked the killings. President Emmanuel Macron staunchly defended the press ‘freedom to blaspheme, which is linked to the freedom of conscience.’

Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.

Share this story

Tell us what you think on our Facebook page