Paris in lockdown after newspaper attack

Source: AFP | January 8, 2015, Thursday |

Online Edition

TROOPS in railway stations, armed police outside media buildings, ultra-tight security at department stores: Paris became a capital in lockdown after Wednesday's deadly terrorist attack on satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.

The brutal assault by two heavily armed men on the newspaper's office in central Paris cast a chill over the city on the first day of the winter sales.

At renowned department store Galeries Lafayette, security guards battened down the hatches as news spread of the attack that killed 12 people.

"The attackers are still on the run. Your job is to keep your eyes open," said a manager, instructing half a dozen guards in orange vests.

"If they are armed, don't start a war -- hide yourself."

The government raised the capital's alert level to its highest level immediately after the attack and deployed some 500 armed police across the city.

Security was also beefed up at the Printemps department store.

"We are in the process of reinforcing everything. The orders are clear: search everything," said the head of security.

Usually packed with bargain hunters for the start of sales, the aisles were empty.

"There are four times fewer tourists than normal. Those who have come tell us they haven't taken the metro," said Ylhan, a 31-year-old working in a nearby luxury store.

"We are in a country where there is freedom of expression," he said. "It's shocking that we are experiencing this in France. Sirens all day -- it's frightening."

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Paris in lockdown after newspaper attack

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