Refusing to let the terrorists who killed six of their coworkers and four others win, the staff of French newspaper Charlie Hebdo have announced that the satirical publication will be circulated in greater numbers next week.
The Daily Beast reports that the newspaper's lawyer, Richard Malka told Le Monde newspaper that one million copies of Charlie Hedbo will be printed on Wednesday, vastly outweighing the paper's normal weekly production of 45,000.
"The paper will continue because they didn't win," columnist Patrick Pelloux tearfully explained to iTele France on Thursday, one day after masked Islamic extremists attacked the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo. "The magazine will continue...[the victims] didn't die for nothing."
A total of 12 people were murdered in the deadly terrorist attack, including eight journalists, two police officers, a maintenance worker and visitor. Last night, two brothers and a teenager were revealed as the three suspects believed to be responsible for the shootings. All three are thought to be linked to the Islamic State terrorist group.
Experts believe the satirical newspaper was targeted due to its controversial drawings which allegedly insulted Islam, including caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed and Islamic State leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Witnesses said the gunmen shouted 'we are from the Al Qaeda in Yemen', and 'Allahu akbar!' - Arabic for 'God is great' - as they attacked the building. They were also said to have yelled 'the Prophet has been avenged', during what was France's deadliest post-war terrorist attack.
Mr Pelloux, who is also a doctor, was close to the building when the attack took place and was called to help the injured.
"They were extraordinary men and women," he said of his former co-workers, "They were killed during a meeting discussing a conference on the fight against racism. Voila."
Journalists and cartoonists across Europe will contribute to the upcoming edition of Charlie Hebdo without charge, reports the Wall Street Journal. Rival French satirical publication, Siné Mensuel, is among those who will contribute articles and cartoons to fill the magazine's pages.
"Our cartoonists, editors, journalists raised their hands without hesitation," editor Siné Mensuel confirmed in an emailed statement.
Google has donated a total estimate of $300,000 to fund the magazine's unprecedented print run next week. French media groups including Le Monde, France Télévisions and Radio France, are also working on a plan to contribute a similar amount, and are urging other media outlets to join in offering humanitarian and financial support.
One of the magazine's writers explained the decision to go ahead with the publication on French television: "It's very hard. We are all suffering, with grief, with fear, but we will do it anyway because stupidity will not win."
