Arson attack on French satirical paper condemned

FRANCE’S prime minister has condemned an apparent arson attack that destroyed the offices of a satirical French newspaper that had “invited” the Prophet Muhammad as a guest editor.

A police official said the blaze broke out overnight at the offices of Charlie Hebdo weekly, and the exact cause remains unclear. No injuries were reported. Police cited a witness saying that someone was seen throwing two firebombs at the building.

The newspaper’s director, who goes by the name Charb, said the fire was triggered by a Molotov cocktail. He blamed “radical stupid people who don’t know what Islam is”, for the apparent attack.