Tony Abbott condemns 'barbaric' Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris | World news | The GuardianTony Abbott condemns 'barbaric' Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris | World news | The Guardian










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Charlie Hebdo attack



Tony Abbott condemns 'barbaric' Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris









Prime minister says security agencies are assessing the implications for Australia of the Paris attack as the national terrorism alert level remains at high

Charlie Hebdo magazine attack – rolling report


















A woman holds a placard saying ‘I am Charlie’ during a gathering in Paris in support of the victims of the attack on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. Photograph: Thierry Chesnot/Getty




Ben Doherty






@bendohertycorro





Wednesday 7 January 2015 16.53 EST







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Tony Abbott has joined global leaders in condemning the Charlie Hebdo attack as “an unspeakable atrocity”.
The prime minister said the thoughts of all Australians were with the families of those “who have lost their lives in this barbaric act”.
“Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of a free society … if you don’t like something, you don’t read it; you don’t kill people you disagree with,” he said. 
Twelve people were killed and an unknown number injured when three gunmen, armed with Kalashnikovs and a rocket-launcher opened fire on an editorial meeting in the Paris office of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo (Charlie Weekly).
The magazine has attracted the opprobrium of some Muslim groups for its regular depictions of the prophet Muhammad. 
There are reports from French police the three gunmen have been arrested.
French police have confirmed they believe they know the men’s identities but have not confirmed rumours of arrest.
Abbott said security agencies were working to assess the implications for Australia of the Paris attack, but there was no information on any imminent threat to Australia as a result.
Australian embassy officials in Paris are working to confirm no Australians were caught up in the attack. It is not believed any were.
“The government will continue to do all it can to protect our community from terrorism,” Abbot said.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten said Australia stood in solidarity with the people of France as they came to terms with the attack.
“Our hearts go out to families and colleagues of those who lost their lives and those who are injured,” he said. “There is no place in any democratic society for extremism that threatens our liberties.”
Shorten said the Paris attack underscored the need for international co-operation to confront the threat of terrorism.
Australia’s national terrorism alert level remains at high, meaning a terrorist attack is likely.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) travel advice for France says there is an ongoing threat of terrorism in Europe.
“We assess there is a heightened threat of terrorist attack in a number of European countries, including France. This threat is posed by those motivated by the current conflict in Iraq and Syria.”
Dfat has not raised the level of its general travel advice for France in response to the incident.
“Take extra care in the Paris or Île de France area and follow the security advice of French authorities.
“The French domestic terror threat level has been raised to the highest level ‘Alerte – Attentat’ in response to this incident. Authorities have introduce heightened security measures in public places, including shopping areas, tourist sites and transportation hubs.”
On 20 December, French police in the city of Tours shot dead a man shouting “Allahu Akbar”, after he had stabbed and wounded three offices in a police station. Investigators are treating the incident as a terrorist attack.
On 15 December, Sydney man Man Haron Monis took 18 people hostage during a deadly siege in Martin Place. He claimed his act was “an act of terror committed by Islamic State”, but it is not believed he was acting with the knowledge of the terror network.
Two hostages and the gunman were killed in the violent conclusion of the siege in the early hours of 16 December.



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