Paris terrorist attack, masked gunmen, Charlie Hebdo

In a Paris terrorist attack Wednesday masked gunmen killed 12 people after storming into a weekly newspaper which had used controversial prophet Mohammed caricatures in the past. One of those killed was the editor of the paper, and the masked gunmen escaped in a vehicle after committing the attack. Leaders from around the globe have condemned the Paris attack, with United States President Barack Obama calling it an act of cowardice. The attackers spoke flawless French without any noticeable accent, and they were yelling Allahu Akbar as they ran through the newspaper office shooting staff. The Charlie Hebdo newspaper had printed a number of controversial publications in the past that Muslims found offensive. In defense of the newspaper it had also included satire and poked fun at other religions as well as political figures and government officials.

Charlie Hebdo had been the target of threats in the past from extremists and radicals, but this did not stop the newspaper. Wednesday’s Paris terrorist attack by masked gunmen may have the opposite effect of what extremists intended though. With the entire world condemning the act of violence as barbaric and cowardly the terrorists did not achieve their desired intentions. Instead of creating fear they have united most of the globe into outrage, and this will only increase acts of defiance by other publications as well. All religions hold their deities sacred, but to murder in the name of any deity is wrong. This act of violence has only strengthened the resolve of the USA, Canada, and other countries to stand strong against extremists rather than giving in to terrorism.