French magazine Charlie Hedbo to print 'one million copies' next week

One million copies of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo will be printed next week as French media and journalists vowed to ensure the title continues, and the freedom of the press is maintained.

The print run represents a huge boost for the title as the normal weekly circulation was believed to be around 45,000.

The French newspaper Le Monde has quoted Charlie Hebdo’s lawyer, Richard Malka, as saying 'one million copies' of the next edition of the satirical magazine are due to be released on Wednesday.

Le Monde itself has released a joint statement with Radio France, and France Television in which they offered to help Charlie Hebdo continue. They also urged other media outlets to follow their example and support the magazine.

The statement said: "The three groups invite the French media to mobilise... and come together to protect the principles of independence and freedom of thought and expression: guarantors of our democracy."