Four editorial cartoonists were killed in an attack on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo on Wednesday, according to French media sources. The newspaper’s editor-in-chief, Stéphane Charbonnier, who was known as “Charb,” and also cartooned for the publication, was gunned down. Also killed were well-known cartoonists Cabu, Wolinski and Tignous.
At least 8 other people were killed in the suspected terror attack.
The Charlie Hebdo’s cartoonist Charb attends a press conference at Theatre du Rond-Point on November 3, 2011 in Paris, France.
Charlie Hebdo had a long history of publishing cartoons that lampooned Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. In 2011, its offices were firebombed a day after publishing a cartoon naming Muhammad as its new editor-in-chief.
The Charlie Hebdo’s cartoonist Cabu attends a press conference at Theatre du Rond-Point on November 3, 2011 in Paris, France
According to The Independent, Charbonnier, defending his decision to publish cartoons of the prophet Muhammad in 2012, said “Muhammad isn’t sacred to me. I don’t blame Muslims for not laughing at our drawings. I live under French law. I don’t live under Koranic law.”
The last cartoon Charbonnier drew makes light of the constant threats Charlie Hebdo faced; it reads “Still no attack in France. Wait! We can send best wishes till end of January.”
