The Counter Extremism Project President Fran Townsend and CEO Mark Wallace released the following statement today in response to the gruesome attacks on the Charlie Hebdo newspaper offices in Paris:

"The Counter Extremism Project strongly condemns today's horrific terrorist attack on innocent civilians, policemen, and journalists at Paris's Charlie Hebdo newspaper. The targeting of journalists is a particularly horrendous affront to our humanity, signaling a direct threat to the free flow of information and opinion - two of the ingredients necessary for a more tolerant world.

This attack bears frightening similarities to the attack on the Jewish Museum of Belgium in May of 2014.  Much like the extremist groups themselves, calls to action made by extremist leadership such as Daesh know no borders or boundaries.  By disseminating these atrocious rally cries through the Internet, extremist groups are touching every single corner of the globe, working to indoctrinate anyone with access to the Internet or Wi-Fi. The result, all too often, are senseless terror attacks in the neighborhoods where we live and work.

CEP implores all those fighting against extremists to heed their own battle call: we must work together to suppress extremist threats, siphon off their access to funding and stop the spread of these abhorrent calls for violence through digital media.

CEP offers our thoughts and prayers to all those who lost loved ones in this unspeakable tragedy.  We stand firmly with France, President Hollande, and the world in trying to find the perpetrators and bringing them to justice." 

In its mission to serve as a research clearinghouse in counter extremism efforts worldwide, CEP has released today a new report on extremism in France.  This report provides an overview of the threats of foreign fighters to France, the nation’s efforts to combat extremist groups and more.