IS radio praises Charlie Hebdo attackers as 'heroes'

Beirut, Jan 8: The Islamic State group's radio praised as "heroes" today the perpetrators of a deadly attack on French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. "Jihadist heroes have killed 12 journalists who worked for the French magazine Charlie Hebdo and wounded more than 10 others," said a statement read on Al-Bayan radio.

Eight journalists died in yesterday's assault on the satirical weekly's Paris headquarters. Of the four others killed, two were policemen. In its statement Al-Bayan said "among those killed were cartoonists who have been mocking Islam and its great figures." There has been no claim of responsibility for the killings, which have triggered global condemnation.

The masked, black-clad gunmen who stormed the headquarters of Charlie Hebdo in broad daylight are said to have shouted Islamist slogans. French authorities have issued arrest warrants for two suspects, brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi. Cherif, 32, is a known jihadist, convicted in 2008 for involvement in a network sending fighters to Iraq. He and 34-year-old Said were born in Paris and are French nationals of Algerian origin.

Also today, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) praised the attackers of the French magazine on its Twitter account. A short poem was also written to laud the attack and commend the assailants.

AFP