DEAR Blog
Disaster Experiential Activity and Reflection
Project by Noah Hass-Cohen, Psy.D., Alliant International University School of Professional Psychology
Contributors: Jeremy Arzt, M.A.; Joanna Clyde Findley, M.A.; Anya Kavanaugh, B.F.A;
Alliant International University, Couples and Family Therapy, Crisis and Trauma course students
January 7, 2015: Charlie Hebdo Attack
Background
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On January 7th, 2015 in Paris, France at 11:30 a.m. local time, two Islamist terrorists forced their way into the offices of the weekly satirical newspaper, Charlie Hebdo.
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The motivation for the attack on Charlie Hebdo was claimed as “revenge of Charlie Hebdo’s depiction of Mohammed," by Al Queda in the Arabian Peninsula.
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In reaction to these attacks, French citizens and people from around the world united together in support of the victims and advocating for free speech.
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In addition, police and military increased on the streets of Paris, and Charlie Hebdo and the victims' families received a great amount of financial support.
Demonstrators make their way along Place de la Republique during a mass unity rally following the recent terrorist attacks on January 11, 2015 in Paris, France. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
https://usatcollege.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/gty_461341606.jpg
Death and Injury
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In the attack, 12 people were killed and eleven were injured, with five of them left critically injured.
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On the following day, a policewoman was killed on the job and on the third day, a Jewish market was held up and four people were left dead.
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Within these three days, three suspects - Cherif Kouachi, Said Kouachi, and Amedy Coulibaly - massacred a total of 17 people in what was referred to as "The French 9/11."
​Psychological Impact
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Despite the great amount of support from citizens worldwide, those who survived the Charlie Hebdo attack have expressed that they have difficult symptoms related to the event, including sleepless nights and experiencing chaos going back to work.
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It was not only lives that were killed in the attack, but years of respected hard work and experience were taken as well.
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Some have found it too difficult to stay at Charlie Hebdo and decided to leave the paper, expressing, “carrying on in the absence of their fallen friends had become too difficult."
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The citizens of France have expressed fear and requested more security, willing to give up some of their rights to better protect the country.
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Many citizens felt angry, responding with hate crimes against Muslims.
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It is common for direct victims of terrorist attacks, their relatives, and members of the general public may have PTSD. In addition victims may feel helpless and guilty.