Up to 10 French journalists and two cops were murdered in a military-style attack by at least two French-speaking Muslims carrying machines guns.
The black-uniformed attackers killed the two police guards before they machine-gunned the liberal journalists at the Paris-based satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, which has routinely criticized Islam’s reputed founder, Muhammad, along with many other non-Muslim politicians and historical figures.
The jihadis shouted “We’ve avenged the honor of the prophet!” before escaping back into the Muslim-dominated projects around the city.
In video published at a French website, the jihadis can be heard shouting “Allah Akbar!” or “Allah is Supreme.”
Allah is the name that Muslims give to their deity.
Parts of the attack were filmed by bystanders.
European politicians condemned the attacks, but did not describe the attackers as Muslims. The attackers “will be chased as long as necessary, so that they can be stopped and be brought before judges,” said France’s president, Francois Hollande. He described the jihadi attack vaguely as a “terrorist attack.”
“The murders in Paris are sickening. We stand with the French people in the fight against terror and defending the freedom of the press,” said a tweet from British Prime Minister David Cameron.
In prior Muslim attacks, the Charlie Hebdo magazine was firebombed in 2011, and a cartoonist in Norway was attacked by a Muslim with a hatchet. Another group of Muslims was arrested in Denmark for planing an attack on a Danish newspaper.
Islamic doctrine assumes religious law is enforced by the government, and says criticism of the religion requires a death penalty. For example, Islam’s rulebook, the Koran, says “Who is guilty of more wrong than he who forgeth a lie against Allah, or saith: I am inspired.”
In contrast, the Christian Bible’s new testament separates government from religious law, and urges Christians to turn the other cheek.
At least 10 percent of France’s population of 67 million consists of Muslims, most of whom are immigrants.
Muslim citizens and immigrants have launched numerous jihadi attacks against French people during the last few years. In March 2012, for example, a Muslim murdered three French children in school. The Muslim also killed three soldiers. In recent weeks, Muslims have driven cars into crowds of French people, injuring more than 20.
More than 1,000 Muslim men who were living in France have reportedly joined the Islamic State in northern Syria.
A statement from U.S. President Barack Obama condemned the attack but failed to mention Islam.
“I strongly condemn the horrific shooting at the offices of Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris that has reportedly killed 12 people,” Obama said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this terrorist attack and the people of France at this difficult time. France is America’s oldest ally, and has stood shoulder to shoulder with the United States in the fight against terrorists who threaten our shared security and the world.”