Charlie Hebdo shooting: 'several terror attacks' foiled in recent weeks, says Francois Hollande
French president confirms 11 dead in terror attack following "several threats" to Charlie Hebdo magazine and numerous foiled attacks
Several terrorist attacks have been foiled in France in recent weeks before the attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine's offices, Francois Hollande has said.
The French president confirmed the shooting in Paris's 11th arrondissement on Wednesday was a terror attack, and said the hunt for the gunmen was under way.
"We are at a very difficult moment. Several terrorist attacks have been impeded during the previous weeks. We are threatened because we are a country of freedom," said Mr Hollande. "We fight threats and we will punish the attackers. Eleven people are dead. We will look for the people responsible."
The French president was talking from the scene of the shooting, in which 11 people were killed by gunmen said to have been wielding machine guns before fleeing the scene. The French government will hold an emergency meeting at the Elysee Palace and the security level in Paris have been raised.
Meanwhile, David Cameron condemned the "barbaric attack", and said Britain "stands united with the French people" against terror.
He told the House of Commons: "I'm sure the whole House will want to join me in condemning the barbaric attack on an office of a magazine in Paris, in which it is report ten or more people may have been killed. "While details are still unclear, I'm know that this House and this country stands united with the French people in opposition to all forms of terrorism, and we stand squarely for free speech and democracy. These people will never take us off those values."
Ed Miliband said he felt "horror at this outrage", adding: "We stand in solidarity with the people of France against this evil. We are determined to defeat them."