Charlie Hebdo to publish one million copies
Surviving staff members of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo say they refuse to be cowed by terror and will publish the next edition on Wednesday with the help of several media agencies.
Despite most of the magazine’s senior journalists shot dead by three armed gunmen, who stormed the Paris offices Wednesday morning local time, staff will set out to publish one million copies.
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Twelve people were killed in the brutal attack, including journalists and police, and 11 others were injured.
As the country plunges into mourning, several other French media agencies plan to support the magazine in producing Wednesday’s edition.
The newspaper’s lawyer, Richard Malka, said one million copies would be printed instead of the normal 60,000.
Google France added ‘Je Suis Charlie’ to its search page.
Mr Leger said it was “important” to publish something.
“I don’t want it to be an issue about death. I want a magazine on the challenge to exist, to say things, to fight against idiocy, against human stupidity, against all fundamentalism.”
According to a report in Les Echo, within 24 hours of the massacre more than $350,000 had been earmarked to support Charlie Hebdo by the Digital Press Fund, paid for by Google, to support the French press.
French media groups including Le Monde, France Télévisions and Radio France, are also understood to be working on a plan to contribute a similar amount, urging other media outlets to join in offering humanitarian and financial support.
This money is expected to be taken from a donation tax, Les Echo reported.
In a further act of good will, the two groups involved in the distribution of the papers will take no fee for next week’s issue.
Meanwhile French SWAT police have swarmed on several villages north-east of Paris in a search of two of three gunmen still at large.
The youngest of the trio who was wanted for questioning over the shooting has handed himself in to police.
An image emblazoned on Charlie Hebdo’s website (pictured) has been translated into English below:
“I AM CHARLIE
Because the pencil will always be mightier than barbarism…
Because liberty is a universal right…
Because you support us…
We,
CHARLIE
Will be putting out your magazine on Wednesday next week”
– with AAP