CRI听力:Condolences Roll in as Hunt for Paris Shooting Suspects Continues

French authorities have arrested seven people connected to Wednesday's deadly terrorist attack in Pairs on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

The death toll from the attack stands at 12.

The dead include eight journalists, the magazine's editor, and two police officers.

11 others were wounded in the deadly attack, four of them seriously.

Police are still hunting for the two suspects, two brothers in their early 30's with suspected links to Yemen's al-Qaeda branch.

A 3rd suspect, an 18-year old, is under arrest after reportedly turning himself in.
Arrest warrants have been officially issued for Said and Cherif Kouachi, who are both French nationals.

The attack has left Paris and the rest of France in shock.

The attack in Paris is the deadliest in the country in decades.

In a national televised speech on Wednesday, French President Francois Hollande has expressed his condolences to the victims and their families, calling them "heroes".
 
He's also urging the French people to remain united as the situation unfolds.

"Today, it is the entire Republic that was attacked. The Republic is the freedom of speech, the Republic is the culture, the creation, pluralism, democracy. This was the assassins' target. It is the ideal of peace and justice that France carries out everywhere on the international scene. And this message of peace and tolerance we also defend with our soldiers to fight against terrorism and fundamentalism."

More than 150-thousand people have gathered for vigils across France to mourn the victims.

Many of those at the vigils have been holding up signs reading "je suis Charlie," or "I am Charlie."

"We do that for the freedom of speech, we are mobilized, we raise our pens. We won't get down."

"We are not here because of hate against the Muslim religion but we are against obscurantism, stupidity, stupid people. This is an everyday fight that is going on for a very long time".

At the same time, international condemnation of the attack has been pouring in.
The Chinese government has issued a formal statement, saying China is deeply shocked and strongly condemns the attack.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei.

"We strongly condemn it as a terrorist attack. We mourn for the victims and express our sympathy to the bereaved families and to the injured. The Chinese side firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and supports the efforts made by the French side to safeguard its domestic security."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging the world to remain united behind peace.

"This horrific attack is meant to divide. We must not fall into that trap. This is a moment for solidarity. Around the world, we must stand strong for freedom of expression and tolerance and stand against the forces of division and hate."

US Secretary of State John Kerry has sent a message to the people of France, saying every American stands with them.

The Iranian government has also issued a condemnation of the attack in Paris, saying any act of terrorism against innocent people is an antithesis to Islamic teachings.

Despite that suggestion, it appears reprisals against Islamic targets in France are taking place, with numerous reports of Mosques being attacked across the country.