This was a targeted shooting aimed at the cartoonists and editor of Charlie Hebdo, who were in an editorial meeting.
10 journos and 2 officers were killed.
Their cover this week was going to be about controversial author Michel Houellebecq, whose latest book postulates that France could be ruled by Islamists in less than 10 years.
Charlie Hebdo was born out of the May revolt of 1968. They were ruthlessly satirical, and nothing escaped them.
They were THE paper of my youth.
They were firebombed after they repbublished all the Danish prophet cartoons, after which they published a cover saying "love over hate" showing a muslim making out with a white guy, complete with drool.
They had also recently published a cover showing that Muhammed, if he came back today, would probably be shot by Islamists.
They were completely irreverential and ballsy like nothing I've ever seen. This saddens me deeply.
Francois Hollande, speaking at the scene around noon, said that several terrorist attempts had been thwarted in the past week (what, who, who knows).
These guys had apparently planned this very professionally and looked specifically for their targets. One was overheard saying that the Prophet had been avenged.
Needless to say, the country is on higher terrorist alert than usual, with particular attention being paid to schools and places of worship. The guys escaped in a Citroen for which they have partial plates, but may have carjacked a second vehicle since.
I'm sad.
PS. The title should be changed: it's not a massacre in France per se, but a targeted attack on the offices of a satirical newspaper that happens to be in France.