Apple’s French website has been updated with a stark black line and the simple message “Je Suis Charlie” (“I am Charlie”) in solidarity with victims of Wednesday’s terror attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine.
The murderous rampage, allegedly conducted by French brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi, left 12 dead, including four of the satirical magazine’s editorial cartoonists and two policemen. While French authorities search for the brothers, a third suspect, Hamyd Mourad, is reportedly cooperating after surrendering.
Like previous attacks on the magazine, Wednesday’s shootings appear to have been motivated by Charlie Hebdo’s publication of editorial cartoons portraying the Prophet Muhammad and ridiculing the rise of radical Islam. The masked gunmen, reportedly affiliated with al-Qaida in Yemen, can be seen on videos shouting “Allahu Akbar!” and “We have avenged the Prophet Muhammad! We have killed Charlie Hebdo!”
Google France also posted a “Je Suis Charlie” badge on its front door, and the #IamCharlie hashtag been trending all day on Twitter and Instagram. On Facebook, some users replaced their profile pictures with the slogan.
Because it is a duty to show solidarity and honour the one who gave their life for Freedom #IamCharlie #JeSuisCharlie pic.twitter.com/f5RiirF658
— Damien Ahuir (@skooal) January 8, 2015
Massive gatherings honoring the victims and supporting free speech have also taken place around the world: in London’s Trafalgar Square, Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, New York’s Union Square, outside the French embassy in San Francisco, and in Brussels, Madrid and dozens of other cities.
At the demonstrations, people stood in silent tribute, or brandished signs with the “Je Suis Charlie” message.
