Netanyahu: Paris Islamist attack requires global response

Cnaan Liphshiz

(JTA) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a “global response” to the attack on a satirical magazine in Paris.

Netanyahu issued his statement Thursday during a meeting with Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende in Israel.

“These extremists are part of a global movement and this necessitates a global response,” Netanyahu said of the slaying of 12 people Wednesday at the offices of the Charlie Hebdo weekly, which witnesses said was carried out by at least three men who said they were supporters of Al Qaida who had come to avenge perceived insults to Islam in items published in recent years by Charlie Hebdo.

“Yesterday’s murderous attack on free expression clearly demonstrates the disdain of radical Islam for the values we hold dear. We cherish freedom and tolerance; they worship tyranny and terror,” Netanyahu added.

On Thursday, a French police officer was killed in a shootout in Montrouge, south of Paris, Le Monde reported. An unidentified, heavily-armed man shot her at close range and fled, Le Monde reported.

The slain officer and another officer were shot on upon arriving at the scene of a vehicular accident. Some witnesses said that two people were involved in the shooting, but others said they only saw one person firing.

On Wednesday, an 18-year-old man surrendered to police after learning he was a target in the manhunt for the assailants, who fled the scene. Relatives of the man, Hamyd Mourad, said he was not in Paris during the attacks, AFP news reported.

French police sources said they believed the two other assailants were Chérif and Said Kouachi, two brothers from Paris in their 30s. Chérif Kouachi has been under police surveillance in connection with his suspected ties to an Islamist group called “Chaumont Targets” that is believed to have recruited fighters for jihadists groups in Iraq.

French police are looking into reports that the two were last seen in Aisne north of Paris, Le Parisien reported Thursday. At least seven people were taken into custody following the murders, the daily also reported.