Covering the Charlie Hebdo Attacks for the Washington Post, 10 years on
10 years ago this year, my career as a fixer took a pivotal turn when I covered the Charlie Hebdo attacks for The Washington Post. I’d already been working with the Post for a year at that point, but those 5 days in January 2015 radically amplified my skill set as a fixer.
5 days that shook not only France but the entire world - from the initial attacks on January 7th to the monumental marches of January 11th, when heads of states and millions alike gathered in Paris and across France in solidarity with the victims of the attacks.
A brief timeline:
- Wednesday, January 7th 2015: Two armed men, the Kouachi brothers, storm the Charlie Hebdo newsroom, killing 12 people. In their escape, they also murder a police officer.
Charlie Hebdo Suspect said to surrender; two others at large after Paris terror attack, by Griff Witte and Anthony Faiola, January 7th 2015. Full article here
- Thursday, January 8th 2015: Amedy Coulibaly kills a police officer and injures a municipal worker in Montrouge, a suburb South of Paris.
Police search for two brothers in massive French manhunt amid fears of more attacks, by Anthony Faiola, Griff Witte and Greg Miller, January 8th 2015. Full article here
- Friday, January 9th 2015: The Kouachi brothers face off against police in a printing shop in Dammartin-en-Goële, a small town an hour North of Paris, while Amedy Coulibaly takes hostages at the Hyper Cacher in Vincennes, a suburb east of Paris, killing four. The police storms both venues almost simultaneously, killing all 3 armed men in the process.
French police end twin standoffs, killing Charlie Hebdo terror suspects and an associate, by Anthony Faiola & Michael Birnbaum, January 9th 2015. Full article here
- Sunday, January 11th 2015: 2 million people demonstrate in Paris to condemn the attacks, led by world leaders who joined the march.
Massive crowds join march for solidarity in Paris, by Anthony Faiola and Griff Witte, January 11th 2015. Full article here
- Monday, January 12th 2015: Alongside reporter Anthony Faiola, I interviewed Marine Le Pen at the FN’s then-headquarters in Nanterre. A simple phone call was all it took to secure an interview—something that would be nearly impossible today. This reflects MLP's need for press coverage at the time and illustrates how much has changed since then.
Far Right in Europe sees opportunity after wave of terror in France, by Anthony Faiola and Griff Witte, January 12th 2015. Full article here.
If you ever look at the state of today’s France’s political landscape and wonder, "How did we get here?", the Charlie Hebdo attacks stand as a significant milestone in 21st-century French history.