Cover image via abcnews.com
On 7 January 2015, masked gunmen burst into the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo, a weekly known for its defiant publication of satirical cartoons, and shot dead 12 people. As French President said, it was "a terrorist attack" of "extreme barbarity". It was also the worst act of terrorism on French soil for over 50 years.
10 of those killed were cartoonists and journalists. They worked at or with Charlie Hebdo. Other two were police officers. Some of them were well known for their work, often deemed controversial. Below, we take a look at who they were and what they did.
Jean Cabut (top L); Bernard Velhac (top R); Charb (bottom L); Georges Wolinski (bottom R)
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Stéphane Charbonnier, a cartoonist known professionally as Charb. Aged 47, Charb was the editorial director of Charlie Hebdo.
Stéphane Charbonnier displays the front page of the magazine in Paris in Septemeber 2012.
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This above cartoon by Charb appeared in the latest issue of the weekly. Translated, it says, "Still no attack in France," says the title. "Wait!" says the man on the drawing. "We have until the end of January to give our best wishes."
Jean Cabut, known as Cabu, was a lead cartoonist at Charlie Hebdo. Aged 76, his first cartoons were published in 1954. He has been described as "an almost legendary cultural figure in France."
This is Michel Renaud. He did not work for Charlie Hebro, but was there to visit Cabu for an upcoming project. He was 68 years old.
A handout picture dated November 2014 shows French caricaturist Cabu (L) and president and founder of the festival, Michel Renaud (R) during the 15th 'Rendez-vous Carnet de Voyage' festival in Clermont Ferrand, France.
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Georges Wolinski, cartoonist at Charlie Hebdo. Aged 80, Wolinski was known for his cartoons spoofing politics and sexuality. He has been called by press a "living embodiment of the freedom of the press" and a "dean and the spiritual father" to many cartoonists.
Georges Wolinski during the 61st International film festival in Cannes, France, on 16 May 2008.
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Bernard Velhac, a cartoonist who went by the moniker Tignous, worked for multiple publications throughout his life, including Charlie Hebdo. He was 58. As per BuzzFeed, he appears to have been a part of network of cartoonists called Cartooning for Peace.
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Bernard Maris, economist at Charlie Hebdo. To readers of Charlie Hebo, he was known as known as "Uncle Bernard". He was 68.
Philippe Honoré was part of Charlie Hebdo since 1992. Aged 73, he published multiple images each week, specializing in riddles.
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Elsa Cayat, an analyst and columnist at Charlie Hebdo
Mustapha Ourrad, a copy editor at Charlie Hebdo
Frédéric Boisseau, a maintenance worker and father-of-two
Ahmed Merabet, a 42-year-old police officer. A Muslim, he was from a local police station who was "slaughtered like a dog" after trying to stop the killers from fleeing the Charlie Hebdo offices.
Ahmed Merabet had worked as a policeman for eight years and had just qualified to become a detective
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